No other harrier is found in such dry habitats as the Pallid Harrier, a bird of the rolling semi-arid grasslands of Eastern Europe. Mixed pairs with the Montagu’s Harrier are known [Mebs and Schmidt 2006, GRIN 2010]. Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status. English: Pallid Harrier Kosmos Verlag. It was hunting for voles and mice over rough fields. Cambridge, UK.
During return migration in spring, the Pallid Harrier regularly can be seen a little further west like southern Italy (Strait of Messina) [Mebs & Schmidt 2006]. 2004. It is found in steppes and grasslands but also in semideserts, marshes and even agricultural areas [GRIN 2010]. 12 years in the wild. The images are of a female pallid harrier, which is a rare bird and does not breed in the UK. With most of my photos you can click on the image to bring up a larger version (and sometimes a less heavily cropped one). Length: 43-48 cm If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Click on a family name to expand/contract the menu below, or use the search box beneath to find a European species. German: Steppenweihe [Mebs & Schmidt 2006] Mebs, Theodor & Schmidt, Daniel (2006). My Flickr photos.
Forsman, Dick (1999).
Downloaded from http://www.globalraptors.org on 23 Mai 2010. Species factsheet: Circus macrourus. The most endangered of the European harriers. Sometimes mammals are generally scarce, and in such years Pallid Harriers turn their attention instead to ground-nesting birds and large insects. Scott, Don (2008). This site is not complete: only European species in the groups shown above will be found in a search. BirdLife Interntional. Ring-tail harriers include the juveniles and females of Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus), hen harrier (Circus cyaneus), and pallid harrier … The Pallid Harrier hunts much as other harriers do, in a low quartering flight between 1m and 5m above ground.
It only breeds at the edge of the Western Palearctic, in Moldova, Ukraine and European Russia, where it is rare. With a juvenile Pallid Harrier being spotted yesterday where I was the day before (just my luck) it got me thinking do they breed in this country? Die Greifvögel Europas, Nordafrikas und Vorderasiens. More are on their way... A very rare visitor to the UK from south-east Europe, however records here and elsewhere in northern Europe are increasing where there have been a number of reports of mixed pairings with Hen Harrier (and Montagu's Harrier). A very rare visitor to the UK from south-east Europe, however records here and elsewhere in northern Europe are increasing where there have been a number of reports of mixed pairings with Hen Harrier (and Montagu's Harrier). More research is needed here. 2009.
Species account: Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus. Kosmos Verlag. Feeds on small rodents like voles, mice or susliks [GRIN 2010].
Oxford. In contrast to other harriers, males and females form pair bonds in their winter quarters and migrate north as a couple. All photos are copyright Dave Appleton. The probable Pallid Harrier was not seen between 2pm and 7pm but a crowd of more than 50 birders then relocated the Harrier and had got enough views to confirm the identification. In 1931 Jimmy shot what was believed in flight to be the first Pallid Harrier ever seen in Britain.In hand Jimmy & Fieldy confirmed the identification, the bird skin was sent to Edinburgh.In Edinburgh the identification was discredited as not a Pallid Harrier but that of a Montagu’s or Common Hen Harrier. At least males already capable of breeding in their 2nd calender year [Mebs & Schmidt 2006]. So at 8:30 yesterday morning I arrived at a car park by a sports centre (TL 34769 40459) … Pallid Harriers spend the in Africa south of the Sahara and also in southern Asia like Iran, India and Myanmar. The use of pesticides in the breeding and wintering range should be reduced significantly . (28693254) Harriers – Journeys around the world. Its main prey items are small mammals, including voles (Microtus), the Steppe Lemming (Lagurus lagurus), hamsters (Cricetus) and ground squirrels (Spermophilus). PoyserMebs, Theodor & Schmidt, Daniel (2006). Eastern species. Probably extirpated from Moldova and Belarus [BirdLife 2009]. In Europe only 300 – 1,100 remain, mostly in Russia [Mebs & Schmidt 2010]. Oxford University Press. Important bird prey are young larks, pippits, wheaters and wagtails [Mebs & Schmidt 2006]. Spanish: Aguilucho Papialbo Eastern species. The species is nomadic in its the winter range [GRIN 2010], following food supply (like locusts). October 6th, 2018. Middleton Lakes RSPB (Warwickshire): Photo by Anne Powell (RBA - the UK birders news service) The small population makes the species vulnerable. [BirdLife 2015] gives a world population of between 9,000 and 15,000 pairs. It is found in steppes and grasslands but also in semideserts, marshes and even agricultural areas [GRIN 2010]. If you would like to leave comments or feedback, please click here to contact me. Weight: Males 235-416 g, Females 402-550g.
No subspecies [GRIN 2010]. Harriers of the World. Image taken by Rod Ferbrache. Has been observed to hunt high small birds higher above the ground [Mebs & Schmidt 2006]. Hunts like a typical harrier from a low flight above open country. Each of these mammals shows fluctuations in abundance along cyclical lines, so one season’s feeding will be dominated by one species, another by a different species, and so on. Pallid Harriers don’t concentrate on certain points with narrow crossings over the eastern Mediterranean but migrate on a broader front. These birds winter in Africa, where they may lead a nomadic existence and feed on more insects than in Europe. Distribution. Sporadically breeds in Bulgaria, Moldova and Rumania [Mebs & Schmidt 2006]. [BirdLife 2004] BirdLife International. Has nested in Sweden and Germany [GRIN 2010].
A number of hybrids have been identified and it seems likely that others have been overlooked as one or other pure species.