What is Harrier?
{{Automatic taxobox | name = Harriers | image = Circus aeruginosus Valencia 3.jpeg | image_caption = [[western marsh harrier]] | taxon = Circinae | subdivision_ranks = Genera | subdivision = ''Circus''<br /> ''[[Polyboroides]]''<br /> ''[[Geranospiza]]'' }} '''Harriers''' are [[species]] of [[diurnal]] [[hawk]]s. They are [[bird of prey|birds of prey]].<ref>Ferguson-Lees C. ''et al''. 1999. ''Raptors of the World''. London: Christopher Helm. {{ISBN|0-7136-8026-1}}</ref> Harriers usually 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. == Details == Most harriers are placed in the [[genus]] ''Circus''. This scientific name comes from the circling movements the birds make when courting. Two other harriers are in the genus ''Polyboroides'', the ''harrier-hawks'', which are [[allopatric speciation|allopatric]] (geographically separated) and restricted to the [[Afrotropic ecozone]]. The remaining single species forms the [[genus]] ''[[Geranospiza]]''. ===Ring-tails=== ''Ring-tail'' is an informal term used by [[birder]]s for the juveniles and females of several harrier species. If seen in the field the exact species usually cannot be known. Ring-tail harriers include the juveniles and females of [[Montagu's harrier]] (''Circus pygargus''); Northern or [[hen harrier]] (''Circus cyaneus''); and [[pallid harrier]] (''Circus macrourus''). == References == {{reflist}} ==Other websites== * [http://ibc.lynxeds.com/family/hawks-eagles-accipitridae Harrier videos] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527064016/http://ibc.lynxeds.com/family/hawks-eagles-accipitridae |date=2010-05-27 }} on the Internet Bird Collection * [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/familia.phtml?idFamilia=30 Harrier videos on the Internet Bird Collection] {{DEFAULTSORT:Harrier (Bird)}} [[Category:Accipitriformes]]