Cinereous Harrier

The Cinereous Harrier (Circus cinereus)  Read in Spanish

Appearance: The Cinereous Harrier is a large, long-winged raptor with distinctive plumage. Adult males have predominantly gray upperparts, white underparts, and striking black wingtips. Adult females and juveniles are brown with streaked underparts. They have a characteristic facial pattern with a white stripe above the eye and a dark eye patch.

Habitat: Cinereous Harriers are typically found in open grasslands, marshes, savannas, and agricultural areas. In Colombia, they can be observed in lowland tropical grasslands, wetlands, and crop fields, where they hunt for small mammals, birds, and insects.

Behavior: Cinereous Harriers exhibit agile flight patterns as they search for prey. They soar at various heights, often low over grasslands, while scanning the ground for food. They are known for their ability to hover in place as they pinpoint potential prey items before swooping down to catch them.

Breeding: Cinereous Harriers construct their nests on the ground in secluded areas within grasslands or wetlands. The female builds the nest using grass and other plant materials and typically lays a clutch of 3-5 eggs. Both parents participate in incubating the eggs and raising the young, which fledge after several weeks.

Conservation Status: The Cinereous Harrier is considered a species of "Least Concern" by the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not globally threatened.