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Today on Animal Fact Files we’re discussing harriers. While the genus name for these hawks is Circus it doesn't necessarily mean they're clowns. In fact, the name is Greek in origin and was applied to the birds for their circling behavior while flying. Their flight patterns also gave rise to their common name, harrier, which means something like, "to harass with hostile attack;" and that's just what these raptors do! 

There are just over a dozen harrier species that live around the world. They mainly inhabit open areas such as grassy fields, savannahs, bogs, marshes, moorlands, agricultural expanses, and more. To give this even further context, it's worth noting that harriers almost exclusively nest and roost on the ground. Some species do take to trees from time to time, but these aerial predators find comfort near the Earth's surface. Even while hunting they glide just a few feet over the grass in a behavior known as quartering. 

Harriers are hawks, however, they're a lot like owls. They have facial discs that help direct sound to their asymmetrical ears which more effectively pinpoint sounds from their environment. These raptors have long tail feathers, long wings that average well over three feet (91 cm) in length, and long legs that help them easily reach into the vegetation and grasp unsuspecting prey. They eat a variety of meals including small mammals such as voles and rabbits, birds such as songbirds, coots, and their young, reptiles and amphibians, insects, and occasionally even fish. They'll also scavenge an eagle kill if given the opportunity.

Unlike many hawk species, harriers are sexually dimorphic: the males and females look different from one another. Females are more often colored to more closely match their brown and beige environment which helps them blend in while incubating their eggs. Males more closely resemble the grey sky and clouds which helps them more effectively catch prey to bring to their partner or partners laying on their nest. These birds may form single pairs, but it's not atypical for males to have a handful of females with which he mates and cares for. 

Some harriers migrate to warmer regions during the winter to avoid cold and return to their breeding grounds each year to reproduce. Some stay in the same place year-round. This is largely dependent on where they live and were born rather than their species. Harriers rarely make noise except during the breeding season when males put on aerial displays to earn the attention of prospective partners or to reestablish a bond with a former partner. Their nests are laid on the ground and may contain anywhere from one to eight eggs– four eggs on average. These are incubated for just over a month and then the babies take another month before they're able to fly.

Harriers are most vulnerable when they're young, however they have the protection of their parents to keep them safe. They separate from their parents a few weeks after learning to fly, but they may still form loose groups with either their family members or other members of their species. What's more, it's not unheard of for harriers to join in roosting flocks of other harrier species and even other birds, including owls!

For more facts on harriers, check out the links below. Give a thumbs up if you learned something new today. Thank you to our Patrons SpikeSpiegel93, Dad, and everyone else for their support of this channel! And thank you for watching Animal Fact Files!