Circus maurus
The Black Harrier (*Circus maurus*) is a striking, medium-sized raptor endemic to Southern Africa, characterized by its sleek, all-black plumage contrasting sharply with a brilliant white rump and bright yellow cere, irises, and legs. Measuring approximately 44-50 cm in length with a wingspan of 105-115 cm and weighing between 320-450 g, females are generally slightly larger but similarly colored. Its most distinctive field mark is the 'all-black' appearance with the prominent white rump patc...
This enigmatic raptor primarily inhabits a mosaic of open, treeless environments, including fynbos, karoo shrublands, arid grasslands, and coastal plains. It generally occurs from sea level up to elevations of around 2000 meters, favoring areas with dense ground cover for nesting.
The diet of the Black Harrier primarily consists of small mammals, especially rodents and shrews, supplemented by small birds, reptiles, amphibians, and large insects. It typically hunts by quartering low over open terrain, using its keen eyesight to detect prey.
The Black Harrier exhibits a diurnal activity pattern, often becoming most active during the cooler parts of the day or at crepuscular hours. It employs a distinctive foraging strategy, quartering low over open ground with its wings held in a shallow 'V' shape, systematically searching for prey. ...
The Black Harrier is endemic to Southern Africa, with its core breeding range concentrated in the Western Cape and parts of the Eastern and Northern Cape provinces of South Africa. Smaller, often fragmented populations also occur in Lesotho and sporadically in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). While...
Endangered
- The Black Harrier's scientific name, *Circus maurus*, means "dark harrier," referring to its distinctive black plumage. - It is one of the rarest and most threatened raptors in Africa, endemic primarily to South Africa. - Unlike most harriers, the Black Harrier is almost entirely black, with on...