Photo: Arria Belli / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Long-winged Harrier
Circus buffoni
Long-winged Harrier (Circus buffoni) — Birds of Prey of South America.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Long-winged Harrier (Circus buffoni) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in South America. Adults weigh 507 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Circus
- Species buffoni
Where it lives
Colombia to the Guianas and northeastern Brazil, south to central Chile and central Argentina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 507 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Long-winged Harrier preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Long-winged Harrier is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Long-winged Harrier (Circus buffoni) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA Colombia to the Guianas and ne Brazil, s to c Chile and c Argentina.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 507 g, with a wing length of about 43.6 cm and a tail of around 26.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 4.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Long-winged Harrier?
The Long-winged Harrier is a large bird that weighs around 507 g.
Where does the Long-winged Harrier live?
The Long-winged Harrier is found across South America with a range covering SA Colombia to the Guianas and ne Brazil, s to c Chile and c Argentina, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Long-winged Harrier belong to?
The Long-winged Harrier (Circus buffoni) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Long-winged Harrier eat?
The Long-winged Harrier preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Long-winged Harrier migrate?
The Long-winged Harrier is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Long-winged Harrier endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Long-winged Harrier make?
1 real field recording of the Long-winged Harrier — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Long-winged Harrier's range?
The Long-winged Harrier has a mapped global range of about 4.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Accipitridae
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Birds of Prey
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.