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Pied Harrier

Circus melanoleucos

Pied Harrier

General Overview

The piesarul, or pied erete, is one of the most spectacular birds of prey in the erete family, but its presence in Romania and the Danube Delta is purely accidental or extremely rare. It is an Asian species, whose main range is in the Far East. In Eastern Europe, it appears only as a wandering "hunter". Its name "motley" (or "pied" in English) refers to the contrasting black-and-white plumage of the male, which makes it one of the world's most recognizable birds of prey in its core range.

Physical Characteristics

The adult male has a striking plumage consisting of well-defined areas of black and white: the head, back, upper chest and wingtips are glossy black, while the rest of the wings, abdomen and tail are silver-grey or white. The female is much more inconspicuous, being brown with streaks and a white rump, similar to the females of the other herets, but usually with greater contrast on the upperside of the wings. The eyes are an intense yellow in both sexes, giving them a piercing gaze.

Habitat & Distribution

Its main range includes the steppes and wetlands of Siberia, Mongolia, China and Korea, wintering in Southeast Asia (India, Philippines). It prefers swamps, wet plains and rice paddies. In the Danube Delta, if it occurs, it can be found in wet gravel areas or at the edge of lakes. It is a species that prefers higher humidity than the white or sour eretes, being often found in habitats that mix grassy and aquatic areas.

Behaviour & Feeding

Further details to be added.

Life Cycle & Reproduction

It nests on the ground, in tall grass, in marshes, or in areas with low bushes. The nest is a simple structure made of grass and thin branches. The female lays 4-5 eggs, and incubation lasts about 30 days. In its native range, the nesting period begins in May-June. The cubs are protected by the female during the first weeks, while the male is the main provider of food for the whole family.

Conservation Status

Globally it is classified as "Not Threatened" (LC), the population being considered stable in the center of its range in Asia. However, like any wetland bird, it is sensitive to desiccation, conversion of natural habitats to agricultural land, and pesticide pollution. In Romania, any observation of this species is of major scientific importance, being included in the lists of rare species monitored by ornithological rarities commissions.

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Sources

  • BirdLife International - Pied Harrier
  • Handbook of the Birds of the World - Pied Harrier profile
  • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
  • Oriental Bird Club (orientalbirdimages.org)
  • Wikipedia.org