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==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | 17 - 24 | + | L. 17-24 in<br/> |
| + | W. 3 1/2-4 1/2 ft<br/> | ||
| + | Weight 12-18 oz<br/> | ||
| + | The female bird is quite a bit larger than the male. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
[[North America]], [[Canada]], [[Sweden]], [[Finland]] and the [[Baltic States]] | [[North America]], [[Canada]], [[Sweden]], [[Finland]] and the [[Baltic States]] | ||
| Line 17: | Line 20: | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| − | + | ====Diet==== | |
| − | + | Includes small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and carrion. Harriers hunt using a low, slow flight over the ground, then plunge onto their prey. | |
| − | + | ====Breeding==== | |
They build a nest of sticks and grass on the ground in thick grass, shrubbery, or other vegetation. 3 - 6 eggs are laid and are incubated 29 - 31 days, and the young hawks fledge 4 - 5 1/2 weeks later. Harriers mature in 2 - 3 years, but may be able to breed their first year. | They build a nest of sticks and grass on the ground in thick grass, shrubbery, or other vegetation. 3 - 6 eggs are laid and are incubated 29 - 31 days, and the young hawks fledge 4 - 5 1/2 weeks later. Harriers mature in 2 - 3 years, but may be able to breed their first year. | ||
| − | + | ==Voice== | |
| − | == | ||
<flashmp3>Circus cyaneus (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | <flashmp3>Circus cyaneus (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | ||
''[[Media:Circus cyaneus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ''[[Media:Circus cyaneus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ||
Revision as of 17:14, 30 December 2007
- Circus cyaneus
Identification
L. 17-24 in
W. 3 1/2-4 1/2 ft
Weight 12-18 oz
The female bird is quite a bit larger than the male.
Distribution
North America, Canada, Sweden, Finland and the Baltic States
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia-> Phylum: Chordata-> Class: Aves -> Order: Falconiformes-> Family: Accipitridae-> Genus: Circus-> Species: C. cyaneus
The North American race hudsonius formerly known as the Marsh Hawk has rufous-spotted flanks and thighs in male and darker upperparts and more orange underparts in female. This race has occurred as a vagrant to the Azores and the Faroes and possibly also in Britain.
Habitat
Breeds in marshes, grasslands and heathlands, sometimes in mountains, often in cultivated areas.
Behaviour
Diet
Includes small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and carrion. Harriers hunt using a low, slow flight over the ground, then plunge onto their prey.
Breeding
They build a nest of sticks and grass on the ground in thick grass, shrubbery, or other vegetation. 3 - 6 eggs are laid and are incubated 29 - 31 days, and the young hawks fledge 4 - 5 1/2 weeks later. Harriers mature in 2 - 3 years, but may be able to breed their first year.
Voice
<flashmp3>Circus cyaneus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
