Photo: Christoph Moning (christoph_moning) / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Pied Harrier
Circus melanoleucos
Pied Harrier (Circus melanoleucos) — Birds of Prey of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Pied Harrier (Circus melanoleucos) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 336 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 melanoleucos
Quick facts
- Weight
- 336 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Pied 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 Pied Harrier is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Pied Harrier (Circus melanoleucos) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL se Siberia, Korean Pen. and ne China.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 336 g, with a wing length of about 35.3 cm and a tail of around 21.4 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 1.8 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pied Harrier?
The Pied Harrier is a large bird that weighs around 336 g.
Where does the Pied Harrier live?
The Pied Harrier is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL se Siberia, Korean Pen. and ne China, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Pied Harrier belong to?
The Pied Harrier (Circus melanoleucos) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Pied Harrier eat?
The Pied Harrier preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Pied Harrier migrate?
The Pied Harrier is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Pied 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.
How large is the Pied Harrier's range?
The Pied Harrier has a mapped global range of about 1.8 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.
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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.