Bird species profile
Cinereous Harrier
Circus cinereus
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Family
- Accipitridae
About the species
The Cinereous Harrier is a slender, medium-sized raptor native to southern South America, including the windswept steppes and grasslands of Patagonia. Males are easily recognized by their pale grey plumage and black wingtips, while females are larger and brown with streaked underparts. This harrier is often seen gliding low over open terrain in search of prey, using its keen eyesight to spot small mammals, birds, and insects. During the breeding season, it performs aerial displays and nests on the ground, often in tall grasses or shrubs. Its adaptability allows it to thrive in a range of open habitats, from wetlands to arid plains.
Habitat
Open grasslands, steppes, marshes, and shrublands across Patagonia and other southern regions.
Foraging
Hunts by flying low over open ground, searching for small mammals, birds, and insects.
