Field harrier - description, habitat, interesting facts

The common harrier is a bird belonging to the predatory birds of the falcon species. Active activity is mainly in the daytime. The harrier differs from its congeners, first of all, by the shape of the body and the rather pleasant coloring of the plumage. This species of bird is protected and considered rare.

The appearance of the moon

There are external differences between the male and female, and the female is often much larger, reaching a weight of 600 grams, she is about 60 cm tall. In turn, the male may resemble a large-sized pigeon (about 400 grams). The plumage of birds has a greyish or white color, the tail area and the head are light. Females have a more brown color, tail feathers are white. The wings are decorated with three dark stripes. For all birds, the gray color of the beak and the yellow color of claws and paws are common.

The body of representatives of this species of feathery is slender, the wings are long and long. Eye color has a shade from yellowish to brown, they are located close to the beak.

Habitat

The field harrier inhabit the territory of the entire Northern Hemisphere, populating both forest-tundra areas and the steppe. In America and Eurasia are present almost everywhere. Nests are mainly located in open spaces: in the steppe or forest-steppe terrain, in the tundra.

For dwelling the harrier chooses the places where the forest is cut down, there are swampy places, meadows and forest edges. The nest will certainly be located where there will be high thickets of grass (for example, nettle) or bushes. Field harrier prefers to hide from human eyes, can live in the mountains, but not below the level of 3 thousand meters.

Nutrition and lifestyle

Flying moon squat, at low altitude. During the flight, the bird tries to find the victim, looks out for it, catches it and catches it using sharp claws. Caught prey is swallowed quickly and completely.

Often harrier to go hunting in the daytime or after dusk. In addition to the usual food, the bird is not averse to eat carrion. Over the course of a month, an average harrier needs 300 units of small living creatures, which indicates its huge appetite.

The birds return from wintering around April, and in May they start mating and breeding. Since the beginning of autumn, the common harrier begins to fly to warm countries, usually the territory of India, Asia or Africa. Some individuals can stay for the winter, settling in nests in small groups, about 15 pairs at a rather large distance between them. Migration also takes place in a flock.

Breeding period

Females are monogamous individuals, which is not the same for males. The latter often manage to become the father of a family with more than three females.In the process of marriage games and flirting with her beloved, the harrier draws various figures during flights, makes pirouettes, sometimes with a partner.

The nest is also built by a female, picking up a secluded and inconspicuous spot in the bushes or on a hummock in the marshes. Branches and dried grass are usually used to build a nesting site; the moon cares for its habitat, keeps it clean and in order. In laying, usually up to 7-8 eggs, which the female needs to hatch.

The parent is engaged in feeding the hatched chicks. Those are not born at the same time, and only the strongest keep life. Flying up to the nesting place, the father, who brought the prey, makes a loud cry, and then the female takes off to him to pick up the trophy. As an option, harrier can also throw the victim directly to the nest. A month later, the chicks can already fly independently. Going out of the nest, the young do not become attached to it, changing their habitat regularly. Field harrier reaches sexual maturity by one year of life.

Rivals of birds

Often young chicks or individuals up to 1-2 years of life become prey of other, larger predators.A column, a raccoon dog or other animals can attack them. But it is worth pointing out that the common harrier, as well as being a predator, is cunning enough and intelligent, so it can eat almost any animal that he can catch.

Interesting facts

The field harrier is quite an interesting and characteristic bird, which differs from a number of other relatives.

1. In the process of flying over the surface of the earth often holds a small bundle of plants in the claws.
2. Lun ordinary will never linger for a long time on the branches of trees. Also, the bird will not build nests there, their places of residence are located only on the surface of the earth.
3. The shape of the wings resemble the letter V from the Latin alphabet.
4. If a person threatens the chicks of the moon, the brave bird may even attack him, violently and tirelessly protecting the offspring with all his might.
5. In the light, chicks appear sighted, the plumage of their brown-grayish color. The offspring is developing quite intensively.

In addition, it is worth pointing out that, under natural conditions, an individual field moon can, on average, live up to 11–13 years.

Vanishing view

In a number of regions and regions of Russia, the representatives of these birds disappear, so the species is listed in the Red Book.The most problematic regions are Moscow, Ulyanovsk and Kaluga regions, Kamchatka, as well as the territory of Tatarstan and Ukraine.

The disappearance of the species occurs because of people: the habitats of the field moon are less suitable for this, the swamps are draining, the forests are being cut down. Also, not the last reason for the disappearance of the species is poaching.

Video: Field harrier (Circus cyaneus)