Photo: Jackie During / GFDL 1.2 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black Harrier
Circus maurus
Black Harrier (Circus maurus) — Birds of Prey of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black Harrier (Circus maurus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 509 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Circus
- Species maurus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 509 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black Harrier preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Black Harrier is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black Harrier (Circus maurus) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Namibia and South Africa.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 509 g, with a wing length of about 35.2 cm and a tail of around 24.9 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 597,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black Harrier?
The Black Harrier is a large bird that weighs around 509 g.
Where does the Black Harrier live?
The Black Harrier is found across Africa with a range covering AF Namibia and South Africa, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black Harrier belong to?
The Black Harrier (Circus maurus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Black Harrier eat?
The Black Harrier preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Black Harrier migrate?
The Black Harrier is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black Harrier endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Black Harrier make?
1 real field recording of the Black 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 Black Harrier's range?
The Black Harrier has a mapped global range of about 597,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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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.