Pied Harrier

The pied harrier is a medium-sized raptor. They measure 41-49cm (16 – 19 in) from the end of the tail to tip of the beak. Adult males weigh 265–325g, while adult females weigh 390–455g. They perch on reeds, posts, or on the ground, rarely on trees. Their wings reach far down their tail but not past the tip. The male is black on the head, neck, back, breast, and primary flight feathers, and white on the forewing, rump, and the rest of its underparts. It has striking yellow eyes. The female is similar looking to that of Montagu's harrier. It is generally dark brown above and pale brown to white below with dark streaking, and a small white rump. Unlike the male, it generally has brown eyes. The juvenile pied harrier resembles a juvenile Montagu's harrier. It Is darker above than an adult female, with rich cinnamon colouring below. In flight, the pied harrier most closely resembles a hen harrier in size and shape. Their wings are slightly rounded at the tips, longish and narrow. The tail is long and rounded. This species flies buoyantly like other harriers, with a few leisurely wingbeats interspersed with glides. It glides and soars with its wings in a shallow V shape.

The pied harrier's breeding range extends east roughly from Lake Baikal in southern Siberia through Mongolia and Northeast China, as far south as North Korea. Their wintering range is from eastern India and Sri Lanka, through South East Asia to the Philippines and Borneo. Their habitat in the north is primarily steppes or boggy birch scrubs and in the south they spend their time in paddy fields and swamps. They prefer open habitat but can tolerate a certain degree of bush cover. They are found at altitudes ranging from sea level to elevations of up to 2100m, but normally breed at under 1500m.

Movement. These harriers move south mainly from September to October, and back North from March to May. Some individuals may stay North in years where voles are abundant. There are also some year round populations in northeastern India (Assam) and Myanmar. Vagrants have been seen in Japan.

Pied harriers primarily eat small mammals such as shrews and mice, and especially voles. They will occasionally eat small birds such as larks and pipits, and sometimes frogs, lizards, snakes, and insects such as beetles or grasshoppers. They have also been observed eating carrion. When hunting, pied harriers fly low and survey the terrain meticulously.