Pallid Harrier

Circus macrourus

Other Names

    Busard pâle   Steppenweihe   Aguilucho Papialbo   Stäpphök   Steppekiekendief   Albanella pallida

World: Central Eurasia from Ukraine and SW Russia as far as Lake Balkhash. Occasionally breeds as far W as Sweden and Gernmany. Winters in sub-Saharan Africa, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and E as far as southern China. Occasionally reaches as far as eastern China.

Kenya: Reasonably common winter visitor and passage migrant below 3000m except in the arid NE.

Pallid Harriers hunt either singly or in small groups across open plains. In Kenya they are often seen feeding on termite nymphs. In their winter grounds insects (particularly locusts) form an important part of their diet while the rest of the time they prey on rodents, birds and small mammals. Larks and pipits are probably an important part of their diet throughout the year.

Their preferred habitats are open grassy plains or dry steppes and they are equally at home in flat or undulating territory. They roost in tall grass and can gather in quite large numbers and frequently roost in mixed flocks with other Harriers. Although not globally threatened their numbers have declined dramatically in areas where the habitat is being exploited by man (most notably in S Ukraine and SW Russia).

The bird pictured above is an adult female and shows the characteristic pale collar which contrasts with the dark cheek patches. It is this feature which distinguishes this species from the very similar Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus).