Birds
Cinereous Harrier
Circus cinereus
Flying low over a Patagonian marsh, a pale grey male cinereous harrier quarters back and forth across the open ground, a hunting style shared by harriers on nearly every continent on Earth.
Overview
The cinereous harrier, Circus cinereus, is a Least Concern bird of prey found across marshes and open grassland from Peru and Chile south through Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. Its low, quartering hunting flight and marked difference in plumage between males and females place it firmly within the harrier genus found worldwide.
A hunting style shared across continents
Like harriers everywhere, the cinereous harrier hunts by flying low and slow over open ground, relying on a combination of sight and hearing to detect prey hidden in grass or marsh vegetation before dropping down to catch it.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread across suitable wetland and grassland habitat throughout its South American range.
Cinereous Harrier: common questions
How do male and female cinereous harriers differ?
Males are pale grey, while females show a streaked brown plumage, a marked difference between the sexes typical of harriers as a group.
How does the cinereous harrier hunt?
It hunts by flying low over open ground, quartering back and forth across marshes and grassland in search of small mammals, birds, and insects.
Where is the cinereous harrier found?
It ranges from Peru and Chile south through Patagonia and into Tierra del Fuego, favoring wetland margins and open grassland.
Is the cinereous harrier related to harriers found elsewhere in the world?
Yes, it belongs to the genus Circus, a group of raptors found on every continent except Antarctica, all sharing a similar low, quartering hunting flight.