Black harrier (Circus maurus)

Description

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Black harrier fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Black harrier description

This striking bird of prey breeds in the unique and incredibly diverse fynbos habitat of South Africa; a habitat which is threatened by the activities of humans. Adult black harriers have black plumage with bold white stripes across the tail, a white rump, and conspicuous white wing panels ^{(2) (5)}. Females are larger than males, and juveniles can be distinguished by their dark brown plumage, which is heavily mottled and streaked ^{(2) (5)}. The genus name of the black harrier, Circus, refers to the male’s circling, acrobatic flight display, undertaken to impress a female during courtship ⁽⁶⁾.

French

Busard maure.

Spanish

Aguilucho Negro.

Size

Length: 50 cm ⁽²⁾

Black harrier biology

This aerial hunter feeds primarily on rodents, small birds and the occasional reptile ⁽⁷⁾, but also eats eggs, insects and, very occasionally, carrion ⁽²⁾. The black harrier soars low over the vegetation searching for prey, often hovering before plunging down to seize its meal ⁽²⁾.

Like other harriers, the black harrier makes an undulating courtship flight which precedes mating ⁽²⁾. Black harriers breed mainly in the wet season, and have been recorded laying eggs from July to September. Three to four pairs may nest close to one another ⁽²⁾, each building an untidy nest of grass at the base of stems, reeds or weeds ⁽²⁾. The three to four eggs that are laid are incubated for around 34 days, and the chicks fledge after 36 to 41 days ⁽²⁾. In winter, black harriers migrate north to the dry steppe and grassland habitats of southern Namibia, southern Botswana and southern Transvaal ⁽²⁾.

Black harrier range

Occurs in southern Africa, where it is primarily found in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Free State in South Africa, southern Botswana and Lesotho. A tiny, isolated population also exists in southern Namibia ^{(1) (2)}.

Black harrier habitat

The black harrier breeds in the fynbos habitat of the Cape Floral Kingdom and adjacent karooid scrub and grasslands. Outside breeding season it moves north to drier grassland, scrub and steppe ⁽²⁾.

Black harrier status

Classified as Vulnerable (VU) by the IUCN Red List 2007 ⁽¹⁾, and listed on Appendix II of CITES ⁽³⁾ and Appendix II of CMS ⁽⁴⁾.

Black harrier threats

Whilst the black harrier is locally common, it is vulnerable to habitat degradation due to its restricted fynbos breeding habitat ⁽²⁾. Fynbos vegetation has been lost to agriculture, invasive alien vegetation and urbanization, resulting in the black harrier losing over 50 percent of its core breeding habitat over the last century ⁽⁸⁾. The diverse natural vegetation has been replaced by a sea of cereal ⁽⁷⁾, and evidence suggests that whilst black harriers forage in cropland, they generally do not breed in these modified habitats ⁽⁸⁾. In addition, black harriers are vulnerable to the impacts of pesticide and rodenticide use ⁽²⁾, which could accumulate within the bird, or reduce the availability of prey.

Black harrier conservation

The black harrier is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), meaning that any trade in this bird should be carefully regulated ⁽³⁾. It is also listed on Appendix II of the Convention on Migratory Species, which encourages range states to conclude agreements that will benefit the conservation of the migratory black harrier ⁽⁴⁾. The black harrier also occurs in a number of protected areas, such as Fernkloof Nature Reserve, which offers a degree of protection. In 2000, a research project on the biology and conservation status of the black harrier in the Western Cape was initiated by the Percy Fitzpatrick Institute of African Ornithology ⁽⁷⁾, which has improved knowledge of this rare bird, but further conservation actions, such as additional monitoring and research, and the provision of incentives to landowners to manage valuable grassland habitat ⁽⁵⁾, are required to ensure the survival of this impressive bird of prey.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Find out more

For further information on the black harrier and its conservation see Raptors Namibia:
www.nnf.org.na/RAPTORS/raptors_pges/blackharrier.htm

For further information on fynbos and the Cape Floral Kingdom see Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy:
www.fynbos.co.za

For more information on this and other bird species please see:

• BirdLife International:
  http://www.birdlife.org

Authentication

Glossary

Carrion

Dead flesh.

Fynbos

The natural shrubland vegetation occurring in the southwestern and southern Cape of South Africa, holding the greatest diversity of plant species in the world. Fynbos is characterised by tall shrubs with large leaves, heath-like shrubs, wiry reed-like plants, and bulbous herbs.

References

1. IUCN Red List (September, 2007)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org
2. del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Sargatal, J. (1994) Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 2: New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
3. CITES (August, 2007)
   http://www.cites.org
4. Convention on Migratory Species (August, 2007)
   http://www.cms.int/
5. BirdLife International (August, 2007)
   http://www.birdlife.org
6. Simmons, R.E. (2000) Harriers of the World. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
7. Curtis, O., Jenkins, A.R. and Simmons, R.E. (2001) The Black Harrier: work in progress. Africa – birds and birding, 6: 30 - 36.
8. Curtis, O., Simmons, R.E. and Jenkins, A.R. (2004) Black Harrier Circus maurus of the Fynbos biome, South Africa: a threatened specialist or an adaptable survivor?. Bird Conservation International, 14: 233 - 245.