Kites, Old World Vultures, Eagles, and Hawks
Pied Harrier
Circus melanoleucos
LCLeast Concern
- Family
- Kites, Old World Vultures, Eagles, and Hawks (Accipitridae)
- Order
- Accipitriformes
Overview
The pied harrier (Circus melanoleucos) is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, named for the male's distinctive white and black colouration.
It is a migratory bird endemic to Asia, ranging roughly from southern Siberia to the Philippines. They are primarily solitary although will sometimes form loose groups. They mostly live in open country and eat small mammals.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Breeds eastern Asia; winters to southern Asia, Philippines, and Greater Sundas.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Pied harrier
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
