Editing Harrier (bird)

{{Short description|Genus of birds}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Circus
| image = Circus aeruginosus Valencia 3.jpeg
| image_caption = [[Western marsh harrier]]
| taxon = Circus
| authority = Lacépède, 1799
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = [[#Species|See text]]
| type_species = ''[[Western marsh harrier|Falco aeruginosus]]''
| type_species_authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758
}}

A '''harrier''' is a member of the genus '''''Circus''''' in [[Accipitridae]], a [[family (biology)|family]] of [[birds of prey]]. Harriers characteristically hunt by flying low over open ground, feeding on small mammals, reptiles, or birds. The young of the species are sometimes referred to as ring-tail harriers. They are distinctive with long wings, a long narrow tail, the slow and low flight over grasslands and skull peculiarities. The harriers are thought to have diversified with the expansion of grasslands and the emergence of [[List of C4 plants|{{C4}} grasses]] about 6 to 8 million years ago during the Late Miocene and Pliocene.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2015.01.013|pmid=25701771|title=A molecular phylogeny of the harriers (Circus, Accipitridae) indicate the role of long distance dispersal and migration in diversification|journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution|volume=85|pages=150–60|year=2015|last1=Oatley|first1=Graeme|last2=Simmons|first2=Robert E.|last3=Fuchs|first3=Jérôme}}</ref>

==Taxonomy==
[[File:Circus cyaneus male perched Berkeley.jpeg|thumb|right|[[Northern harrier]], adult male]]
The [[genus]] ''Circus'' was introduced by the French naturalist [[Bernard Germain de Lacépède]] in 1799.<ref>{{ cite book | last=Lacépède | first=Bernard Germain de | author-link=Bernard Germain de Lacépède | year=1799 | title=Discours d'ouverture et de clôture du cours d'histoire naturelle | chapter=Tableau des sous-classes, divisions, sous-division, ordres et genres des oiseux | language=fr | publisher=Plassan | place=Paris | page=4 | chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6uhAAAAAcAAJ&pg=RA3-PA4 }} Page numbering starts at one for each of the three sections.<!--BHL appears not to have a scan--></ref> The [[type species]] was subsequently designated as the [[western marsh harrier]].<ref>{{ cite book | editor1-last=Mayr | editor1-first=Ernst | editor1-link=Ernst Mayr | editor2-last=Cottrell | editor2-first=G. William | year=1979 | title=Check-list of Birds of the World. Volume 1 | edition=2nd | publisher=Museum of Comparative Zoology | place=Cambridge, Massachusetts | page=316 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16108956 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | last=Lesson | first=René P. | date=1828 | author-link=René Lesson | title=Manuel d'ornithologie, ou Description des genres et des principales espèces d'oiseaux | volume=1 | language=French | location=Paris | publisher=Roret | page=105 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/55490188 }}</ref>  Most harriers are placed in this genus. The word ''Circus'' comes from the [[Ancient Greek]] ''κρέξ'' (''kréx)'' referring to a long legged bird, and is possibly ultimately derived from an onomatopoeia.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Beekes |first=Robert |url=https://archive.org/details/etymological-dictionary-of-greek_202306 |title=Etymological Dictionary of Greek |year=2010 |isbn=9789004174207 |pages=702, 776}}</ref> The name ''harrier'' is thought to have been derived either from [[Harrier (dog)]], or by a corruption of ''[[wiktionary:harrower|harrower]]'', or directly from ''[[wiktionary:harry|harry]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://archive.org/stream/zoologist2624lond#page/1054/mode/2up/|author=Hogg, John| title=A catalogue of birds observed in South-eastern Durham and in North-western Cleveland| pages=1049–1063| journal=The Zoologist|volume=3| year=1845}}</ref>

The genera ''Circus'' has in the past been placed in the [[subfamily]] Circinae but [[molecular phylogenetic]] studies have shown that such a grouping is [[polyphyletic]] for [[Accipitrinae]].<ref>{{Cite book | last1=Mindell | first1=D. | last2=Fuchs | first2=J. | last3=Johnson | first3=J. | date=2018 | chapter=Phylogeny, taxonomy, and geographic diversity of diurnal raptors: Falconiformes, Accipitriformes, and Cathartiformes  | editor1-last=Sarasola | editor1-first=J.H. | editor2-last=Grange | editor2-first=J.M. | editor3-last=Negro | editor3-first=J.J. | title=Birds of Prey: Biology and conservation in the XXI century | location=Cham, Switzerland | publisher=Springer | isbn=978-3-319-73744-7 | pages=3-32 | url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326086278 }}</ref><ref name=catanach>{{Cite journal | last1=Catanach | first1=T.A. | last2=Halley | first2=M.R. | last3=Pirro | first3=S. | date=2024 | title=Enigmas no longer: using ultraconserved elements to place several unusual hawk taxa and address the non-monophyly of the genus ''Accipiter'' (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae) | journal=Biological Journal of the Linnean Society | pages=blae028 | doi=10.1093/biolinnean/blae028}}</ref> The harrier-hawks in the genus ''[[Polyboroides]]'' are not closely related and are placed in their own subfamily Polyboroidinae<ref name=catanach/>

===Ring-tails===<!-- Anchor from redirected [Ring-tail harrier] article; caution-->
''Ring-tail'' is an informal term used by [[birder]]s for the juveniles and females of several harrier species when seen in the field and not identifiable to an exact species.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wli.wwt.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Harrier-in-India.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://wli.wwt.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Harrier-in-India.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Harriers in India: A Field Guide|website=wwt.org.uk|publisher=Wetland Link International|access-date=27 January 2021}}</ref>  Ring-tail harriers include the juveniles and females of [[Montagu's harrier]] (''Circus pygargus''), [[hen harrier]] (''Circus cyaneus''), and [[pallid harrier]] (''Circus macrourus'').
[[File:Montagu's Harrier- Male.JPG|thumb|right|A male [[Montagu's harrier]] displays the signature upswept wings and [[grassland]] habitat.]]

==Species==
The genus contains 16 species:<ref name=ioc>{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela Rasmussen | date=August 2022 | title=Hoatzin, New World vultures, Secretarybird, raptors | work=IOC World Bird List Version 12.2  | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/raptors/| publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=6 December 2022 }}</ref>
{{Species table |genus=Circus  |authority-name=Lacépède |authority-year=1799 |species-count=sixteen|no-note=y|narrow-percent=75}}

{{Species table/row
|name= [[Montagu's harrier]]|binomial=[[Circus pygargus]]
|image=File:A Montagu's Harrier male roosting for the night (50971610728).jpg|image-size=180px |image-alt=
|authority-name=Linnaeus|authority-year= 1758 |authority-not-original=yes
|range= Eurasia, winters in Africa and India
|range-image=File:CircusPygargusIUCNver2019-2.png
|range-image-size=180px
|size=
|habitat=
|hunting=
|iucn-status= LC
|population=
|direction=
|subspecies=
}}

{{Species table/row
|name=[[Hen harrier]] |binomial=[[Circus cyaneus]]
|image=File:Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) (43999208970).jpg|image-size=180px |image-alt=
|authority-name=Linnaeus |authority-year=1766 |authority-not-original=yes
|range= Eurasia 
|range-image=File:Circus cyaneus distribution map.png
|range-image-size=180px
|size=
|habitat=
|hunting=
|iucn-status= LC
|population=
|direction=
|subspecies=
}}

{{Species table/row
|name=[[Northern harrier]] |binomial=[[Circus hudsonius]]
|image=File:Circus hudsonius fencepost.jpg|image-size=180px |image-alt=
|authority-name=Linnaeus |authority-year=1766 |authority-not-original=yes
|range=  North America<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1186/s40657-016-0052-3|title=Molecular phylogeny, morphology and life-history comparisons within ''Circus cyaneus'' reveal the presence of two distinct evolutionary lineages|journal=Avian Research|volume=7|year=2016|last1=Etherington|first1=Graham J.|last2=Mobley|first2=Jason A.|doi-access=free}}</ref>
|range-image=File:Circus hudsonius map.svg
|range-image-size=180px
|size=
|habitat=
|hunting=
|iucn-status= LC
|population=
|direction=
|subspecies=
}}

{{Species table/row
|name= [[Western marsh harrier]] |binomial=[[Circus aeruginosus]]
|image=File:Western Marsh Harrier- Bangalore, India.jpg|image-size=180px |image-alt=
|authority-name=Linnaeus|authority-year= 1758 |authority-not-original=yes
|range= Europe, western Asia; winter range includes Africa and India. 
|range-image=File:CircusAeruginosusIUCNver2016 3.png
|range-image-size=180px
|size=
|habitat=
|hunting=
|iucn-status= LC
|population=
|direction=
|subspecies={{Collapsible list |expand=yes |title=Two subspecies |bullets=on
| ''C. a. aeruginosus'' (Linnaeus, 1758) 
| ''C. a. harterti'' [[Otto Eduard Graf von Zedlitz und Trützschler|Zedlitz]], 1914
}}
}}

{{Species table/row
|name=[[Eastern marsh harrier]] |binomial=[[Circus spilonotus]]
|image=File:Circus spilonotus 232045041.jpg|image-size=180px |image-alt=
|authority-name=Kaup|authority-year= 1847 |authority-not-original=
|range= Asia (migratory)
|range-image=
|range-image-size=180px
|size=
|habitat=
|hunting=
|iucn-status= LC
|population=
|direction=
|subspecies=
}}

{{Species table/row
|name=[[African marsh harrier]] |binomial=[[Circus ranivorus]]
|image=File:Circus ranivorus.jpg|image-size=180px |image-alt=
|authority-name=Daudin|authority-year= 1800 |authority-not-original=yes
|range= southern and central Africa
|range-image=File:Circus ranivorus distribution.png
|range-image-size=180px
|size=
|habitat=
|hunting=
|iucn-status= LC
|population=
|direction=
|subspecies=
}}

{{Species table/row
|name=[[Swamp harrier]] |binomial=[[Circus approximans]]
|image=File:Circus approximans -Hamilton Zoo, New Zealand-8a (cropped).jpg|image-size=180px |image-alt=
|authority-name=Peale |authority-year=1849 |authority-not-original=
|range=  New Zealand, Australia, Pacific islands
|range-image=
|range-image-size=180px
|size=
|habitat=
|hunting=
|iucn-status= LC
|population=
|direction=
|subspecies=
}}

{{Species table/row
|name=[[Papuan harrier]] |binomial=[[Circus spilothorax]]
|image=|image-size=180px |image-alt=
|authority-name=Salvadori & D'Albertis |authority-year=1875 |authority-not-original=
|range= New Guinea
|range-image=File:Circus spilothorax distribution.PNG
|range-image-size=180px
|size=
|habitat=
|hunting=
|iucn-status= LC
|population=
|direction=
|subspecies=
}}

{{Species table/row
|name=[[Malagasy harrier]] |binomial=[[Circus macrosceles]]
|image=|image-size=180px |image-alt=
|authority-name=Newton |authority-year=1863 |authority-not-original=
|range= Indian Ocean (Madagascar and the Comoro Islands)
|range-image=
|range-image-size=180px
|size=
|habitat=
|hunting=
|iucn-status= EN
|population=
|direction=
|subspecies=
}}

{{Species table/row
|name= [[Réunion harrier]] |binomial=[[Circus maillardi]]
|image=File:Papangue Femelle, Route forestière de la Plaine d'Affouche, Parc National de La Réunion.jpg|image-size=180px |image-alt=
|authority-name=J. Verreaux |authority-year=1862 |authority-not-original=
|range= (Indian Ocean) Réunion Island
|range-image=File:Circus maillardi distribution 1973-1975.png
|range-image-size=180px
|size=
|habitat=
|hunting=
|iucn-status= EN
|population=
|direction=
|subspecies=
}}

{{Species table/row
|name= [[Long-winged harrier]]|binomial=[[Circus buffoni]]
|image=File:Circus buffoni male pale.jpg|image-size=180px |image-alt=
|authority-name=Gmelin, JF|authority-year= 1788 |authority-not-original=yes
|range= South America
|range-image=File:Circus buffoni map.svg
|range-image-size=180px
|size=
|habitat=
|hunting=
|iucn-status= LC
|population=
|direction=
|subspecies=
}}

{{Species table/row
|name=[[Spotted harrier]] |binomial=[[Circus assimilis]]
|image=File:Circus assimilis flight.jpg|image-size=180px |image-alt=
|authority-name=Jardine & Selby|authority-year= 1828 |authority-not-original=
|range=  Australia, Indonesia
|range-image=File:Distribution circus assimilis.png
|range-image-size=180px
|size=
|habitat=
|hunting=
|iucn-status= LC
|population=
|direction=
|subspecies=
}}

{{Species table/row
|name=[[Black harrier]] |binomial=[[Circus maurus]]
|image=File:Circus maurus.jpg|image-size=180px |image-alt=
|authority-name=Temminck |authority-year=1828 |authority-not-original=yes
|range= southern Africa
|range-image=File:Black Harrier Distribution.jpg
|range-image-size=180px
|size=
|habitat=
|hunting=
|iucn-status= EN
|population=
|direction=
|subspecies=

}}

{{Species table/row
|name=[[Cinereous harrier]] |binomial=[[Circus cinereus]]
|image=File:Gavilán Ceniciento.jpg|image-size=180px |image-alt=
|authority-name=Vieillot|authority-year= 1816 |authority-not-original=
|range=  South America
|range-image=File:Circus cinereus map.svg
|range-image-size=180px
|size=
|habitat=
|hunting=
|iucn-status= LC
|population=
|direction=
|subspecies=

}}

{{Species table/row
|name=[[Pallid harrier]] |binomial=[[Circus macrourus]]
|image=File:A Pallid Harrier Male Roosting (51041721888).jpg|image-size=180px |image-alt=
|authority-name=S. G. Gmelin |authority-year=1770 |authority-not-original=yes
|range= migratory: eastern Europe, Asia, Africa (winter)
|range-image=File:CircusMacrourusIUCNver2018 2.png
|range-image-size=180px
|size=
|habitat=
|hunting=
|iucn-status= LC
|population=
|direction=
|subspecies=
}}

{{Species table/row
|name=[[Pied harrier]] |binomial=[[Circus melanoleucos]]
|image=File:Pied Harrier (Female).jpg|image-size=180px |image-alt=
|authority-name=Pennant|authority-year= 1769|authority-not-original=yes
|range= Asia
|range-image=
|range-image-size=180px
|size=
|habitat=
|hunting=
|iucn-status= LC
|population=
|direction=
|subspecies=
}}
{{Species table/end}}




===Fossils===
* {{extinct}} [[Eyles's harrier]], ''Circus eylesi'' ([[Late Quaternary prehistoric birds|prehistoric]])
* {{extinct}} [[Wood harrier]], ''Circus dossenus'' ([[Late Quaternary prehistoric birds|prehistoric]])

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Circus (genus)}}
* [http://ibc.lynxeds.com/family/hawks-eagles-accipitridae Harrier videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/familia.phtml?idFamilia=30 Harrier videos on the Internet Bird Collection]
* {{Cite EB1911 |wstitle=Harrier |volume=13 |page=17 |first=Alfred |last=Newton |short=1 |author-link=Alfred Newton}}

{{Accipitrimorphae|A.|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q3325926|from2=Q207796}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harrier (Bird)}}
[[Category:Harriers (birds)| ]]