Steppe Harrier description. Steppe Harrier (Circus macrourus)Eng

Distributed in temperate Eurasia (east to Mongolia and Manchuria), in North-West Africa, on the Reunion Islands and Madagascar, in Australia. In the northern part of its range it is a migratory bird.

The total body length is 49-60 cm, weight 500-750 g, wing length 36-43 cm, wingspan 110-140 cm. Females are much larger than males. Age-related changes and gender differences in coloration are significant. The coloration of adult males consists of gray, white, brown (in western individuals) or black (in eastern individuals) colors; the crown is brown or black with ocher edges of the feathers; coverts, secondary flight feathers, tail racemes silvery-gray; the back and shoulders are brown (in western birds) or black with a more or less developed light pattern (in eastern birds); the front primaries have a whitish base and a black tip. Adult females have a buffy head with dark streaks, a brown dorsal side of the body with buffy markings on the wing coverts and shoulders; lesser wing coverts greyish; the ventral side is brown with a buffy spot on the chest; tail feathers are brown with a grayish coating (in western birds) or brown with dark transverse stripes (in eastern birds). Juveniles in the first nesting plumage are similar to adult females, but without the grayish color on the lesser wing coverts and with narrower longitudinal markings on the crown. The iris is yellow, the beak and claws are black, the wax and legs are yellow. The voice is a loud “kiyuyu-kiyuyu-kiyuyu”.

The food consists of small birds (starlings, larks, buntings, etc.), also young, less often adult birds of medium size (ducks, rails, gulls); willingly eats eggs, half-dead fish, and frogs. Finally, it also catches small animals, especially rodents. Hunts along the banks and over the coastal waters of the reservoir where its nesting site is located. Also visits nearby meadows and fields. In search of prey, it systematically inspects its hunting grounds, and flies slowly and at high altitude. Having noticed the prey, which is on the ground among the grassy thickets or on the water in the reeds, the marsh harrier hovers above it in the air, flapping its wings, then sharply rushes down with its paws extended forward. It kills captured animals by squeezing them with its claws. Carries prey in its paws.

It nests in swampy areas overgrown with reeds and reeds near water bodies. He always builds nests himself and does not occupy other people's nests. The nest is a bulky structure, reaching 1 m in diameter and 0.5 m in height, made from the stems and leaves of last year's reeds. It is difficult to access and is located among swamps and peat rafts. It is mainly the female who builds, but both partners bring building materials in their paws. Clutch of 4-5, rarely 2 or 6 eggs. The eggs are white, sometimes with a greenish tint and ocher speckles. The female incubates for a little more than a month (33-36 days). The downy outfit of the chicks is yellowish, white on the head. The young begin to fly at the age of 35-40 days. After leaving the nest, they stay close to it for some time, the parents continue to feed their offspring. Gradually, the young begin to obtain food themselves and expand the territory of their activity.

Eastern marsh harrier

Eastern Marsh Harrier

(Circus spilonotus)

Breeds in North-East China, Mongolia, South-East Siberia, on Sakhalin Island, and is found in small numbers in northern Japan. This migratory bird winters in Southern China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Northeast India, Bangladesh, Southeast Asia, and also flies to the Philippines, Kalimantan and Sumatra. Inhabits extensive reed and reed swamps or lake shores, as well as meadows and other open landscapes.

The body length is 48-58 cm, the wingspan is 113-137 cm, and the female is noticeably larger than the male. The weight of males is 580-610 g, females - 780 g. Adult females are similar to the marsh harrier, but with a striped tail. Adult males are sharply different. Their head and neck are whitish with black trunks, their cheeks and ear coverts are black with grayish feather edges and streaks; the front 5 primaries are white at the base, black at the apex, with a silver-gray coating on the outer webs; the remaining flight feathers are gray with a black transverse pattern and white margins of the inner webs; the secondary flight feathers are gray with white margins of the inner webs; steering wheels are gray; The ventral side is white with black ridges on the crop and chest. The iris is yellow in adults, brown in juveniles; beak and claws are black; legs and cere yellow.

When hunting, it flies low above the ground with its wings folded in the shape of a V. It feeds mainly on small birds, mammals and frogs.

Mating games begin with arrival, at the end of April and beginning of May. The male rises into the air with a nasal “kwaaa”, folds his wings and rushes down, the female flies somewhat lower, emitting a cry like “pee” or “ee”, sometimes both partners fly high. Nests are placed on the ground among reeds, rarely on bushes; They are made mainly from reed stems, without bedding. Fresh clutches were discovered in the last third of May (Primorye, Transbaikalia). The number of eggs in a clutch is 3-4, rarely 5. Young birds begin to fly in late July - early August.

African marsh harrier

African Marsh Harrier

(Circus ranivorus)

Distributed in Southeast Africa from South Africa north to South Sudan, with the largest numbers in the Okavango Delta (Botswana). Inhabits reed-covered swamps, river or lake banks, as well as nearby meadows, farmland and pastures.

The body length is 44-49 cm, and the female is 30% heavier than the male. The main color of both sexes is brown with light streaks on the head, chest and upper side of the wing; the thighs and belly are colored red. The tail and flight feathers have dark stripes. The eyes and paws are yellow.

It feeds mainly on small mammals, in particular striped mice (Rhabdomys pumilio), which in South Africa make up up to 70% of the diet; it also eats frogs, small wading birds, and sometimes destroys the nests of herons and eats their chicks.

Unlike other harriers, this is a monogamous bird. The breeding season usually runs from August to December, but in northern South Africa it can breed all year round. The nest is constructed from small branches and reeds among dense thickets of reeds. The clutch usually contains 3-5 whitish-blue eggs, which are laid between July and November. The female incubates for 30 days, during which time the male brings food to the nest.

Meadow Harrier

Montagu's Harrier

(Circus pygargus)

Breeds in Europe from England, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, southern Sweden, the Baltic states, central European Russia south to Hungary, Ukraine, Romania, the Mediterranean, Crimea, as well as in Iran, Central Asia, Siberia to Tyumen, Tara, Krasnoyarsk ; also in North Africa (Algeria, Morocco). A migratory bird wintering in Asia from south-eastern Iran and central Pakistan east to Nepal and Bangladesh (including much of India) and tropical sub-Saharan Africa. Going for the winter, some individuals leave the nesting grounds already at the end of July or beginning of August, when the grown chicks become independent. The bulk flies away in the second half of August, and by mid-October the nesting territories are completely empty. During autumn migration they fly singly or keep in pairs or small groups. They return later than other harriers - in the second half of April or May, when the ground is completely free of snow. It prefers open and most often moist landscapes with fairly high vegetation - wide river valleys, wet tall grass meadows, muddy lake shores. It also settles in swamps, but unlike the marsh harrier, it prefers small and drier areas. In all cases, it often chooses places with bushes. Less commonly inhabits less damp landscapes - open areas of the steppe, heathlands, wastelands, young forest plantations. The most favorable natural zones for the meadow harrier are forest-steppe and steppe; here it is most numerous and occurs more often than other species of harrier.

An elegant bird with relatively long narrow wings and a long tail. In the air it usually stays low above the ground, with its wings extended in the shape of a V. The flight is smooth and leisurely. This is the smallest species of harriers - body length 41-52 cm, wingspan 97-120 cm. In general size and color, sexual dimorphism is typical for the genus. The weight of males varies from 227 to 305 g, while females look much larger, their weight reaches 319-445 g. It is easiest to distinguish an adult male from other feathered predators. The plumage of the head, back and wing coverts is ash-gray, darker than similar areas on other light-colored harriers. The front of the head, throat and chest are pale gray. The belly and undertail are white with a pattern of narrow red or brown longitudinal streaks. The primaries are completely (and not partially) black, which, along with two thin longitudinal stripes and with red streaks on the white underside of the secondaries, clearly distinguishes the male from other species. Another black stripe is expressed on the outside of the minors. Finally, distinct transverse stripes are marked on the tail. More difficulties arise when identifying a female, which is almost the same in color as a female Hen Harrier, but has a smaller size and a slimmer build. Both of these species have a grayish-brown upperparts, sometimes with narrow rufous edges, and a monotonous buffy underparts, slightly darker in the described bird. The distinctive features of the female meadow harrier are a narrow white spot on the lower back, a distinct (not blurred) striped pattern on the coverts, and a wide and full-length white longitudinal stripe in the lower part of the wing. The light collar, developed in the steppe and field harriers, is absent in the female meadow harrier.

Like other harriers, the meadow harrier always hunts in the open, slowly flying around the area low above the ground. It often moves along the edge of tall grass to catch its prey by surprise. Having noticed it, the bird falls down, its claws extended forward. Unlike the marsh or hen harrier, the meadow harrier can grab prey not only on the surface of the ground, but also in the air. The ratio of food may vary depending on the habitat, but basically it is rodents smaller than rats, small birds and large insects - grasshoppers, crickets, dragonflies, beetles. In steppe regions, a significant proportion of the diet consists of lizards and gophers. Destroys ground nests of birds, eating eggs and chicks. In small quantities it eats earthworms, mollusks, frogs and snakes.

It nests in pairs or, if feeding conditions permit, in small loose groups that look like colonies. In the latter case, which is not typical for other species of harriers, the distance between neighboring nests varies from 10 to 100 m. The nest, the construction of which only the female is involved in, is located on the ground among last year’s tall grass or dry bushes. Its appearance largely depends on soil moisture. In more or less damp places and in thickets of bushes, the nest is a pile of straw or grass with a diameter of 35-40 (occasionally up to 80 cm) and a thickness of up to 15 cm, at the base of which there may be small branches. In arid areas, for example in the steppe, nests are found in the form of a simple depression in the ground lined with dry grass or without lining. The area around the nest is always open - it can be a meadow, field, damp area of ​​swamp or steppe. The female begins to lay eggs one every 2 days in the second half of May or the first half of June. A complete clutch consists of 3-6 eggs. The eggs are white with a greenish tint, very rarely with brownish or ocher spots. One female incubates, starting with the first egg, and the male provides her with food during this period. Having noticed a male returning from a hunt, the female often flies out to meet him and, imitating an aerial battle, takes food from him. The birds behave secretly, but in case of danger they try to protect the nest from other predators, circling around it and emitting alarming cries. In a colony, several birds from neighboring nests flock to defend themselves, which increases the effectiveness of the defense. Unlike hen harriers, meadow harriers are not so aggressive towards an approaching person or large animal; they only occasionally create the appearance of an attack, and then at a considerable distance. The chicks, covered with white down, are born after 28-40 days in the same order as the eggs were laid. For the first 2 weeks after hatching, the female remains with the offspring, and the male continues to provide them with food. At the age of 28-42 days, the chicks fly, and after another 10-14 days they become completely independent.

Harrier

Northern Harrier

(Circus cyaneus)

Breeds in the northern hemisphere from forest-tundra in the north to the steppe zone in the south. In Eurasia it is distributed throughout its entire length from west to east. In Scandinavia and on the Kola Peninsula it is found south of 70° N. w. in Norway, 68° N. w. in Sweden, 62° N. w. in Finland and the Murmansk region. In the interval between the White Sea and the Yenisei basin in Western Siberia it occurs south of 67° N. sh., in Eastern Siberia approximately south of 67° N. w. The southern border of the nesting sites runs through the north of the Iberian Peninsula, the southern border of the Alps, the Carpathians, the northern coast of the Black Sea, Crimea, Transcaucasia, the Volga region and the Urals in the region of 52° N. sh., Northern Kazakhstan to the 52nd parallel, Altai, Northern Mongolia, North-Eastern China and Northern Primorye. Outside the mainland it is found on the British, Orkney, Hebrides, Shantar Islands and possibly on Sakhalin. In North America, it breeds as far north as Northern Alaska, Northern Saskatchewan, Southern Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador; south to Baja California, Southern Texas, Southern Missouri, Virginia and North Carolina. The populations of Northern and Eastern Europe, Asia and the northern part of North America are completely migratory, the rest are partially migratory or dispersing. In case of migration, they winter in Western Europe south of Scotland and southern Sweden (some individuals reach North Africa), in Asia from Western Asia and the Middle East in the west to the Korean Peninsula, the coast of the Gulf of Thin and the Japanese Islands in the east, in America south of the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and New Brunswick to Panama, Colombia and Venezuela in South America. Sometimes found in the Greater Antilles.

Inhabits mainly open landscapes. In the forest zone it is found on the edges, clearings, burnt areas, moss swamps, along the edges of fields, in meadows of river valleys. During the nesting period, the greatest preference is given to small clearings 3-5 years old, densely overgrown with nettles, fireweed and raspberry bushes. Rarely settles near bush thickets. In the north of the range it lives in the forest-tundra, in the south in the steppe or prairie. In the mountains it is found up to 3200 m above sea level.

The bird of prey is of medium size and light build - length 46-47 cm, wingspan 97-118 cm. Like other members of the genus, it is distinguished by its long wings and tail, thanks to which it moves slowly and silently low above the ground. Females look noticeably larger than males - their weight is 390-600 g, while the weight of males is 290-390 g. There is also pronounced sexual dimorphism in color. An adult male has an ash-gray upper body, throat, crop and “cap” on the head; the belly, facial disc and rump are white. The white lumbar spot is clearly visible. There is a clear boundary between the dark top and light bottom, which distinguishes the male of this bird from the closely related steppe harrier. The wings are long and relatively narrow, with black tips on the primaries and a dark stripe along the posterior margin. The female harrier is dark brown above with buffy-reddish spots on the coverts, light buffy below with dark streaks (drop-shaped on the chest and longitudinal on the belly). Three longitudinal dark stripes are clearly visible on the underside of the wing of females, and three transverse stripes on the undertail. Young birds in the first year of life are similar in appearance to mature females, differing from them in a more reddish shade of the lower part and fewer streaks, especially on the belly, as well as wide red edges of the back feathers. The iris in adult birds is yellow, in young birds it is grayish-brown. The legs are long and yellow.

It feeds mainly on mouse-like rodents - voles, hamsters, mice; in areas of abundance they can make up up to 95% of the total diet. In addition, they hunt a variety of amphibians, reptiles and insects. They catch hares, shrews, gophers and some birds. Occasionally feeds on carrion. When hunting, they fly low and silently above the ground, looking for prey.

Sexual maturity in males and females occurs at the age of one year. Most males are monogamous, although in some cases there are cases of polygyny - one male can serve up to five females per season. Females are monogamous. Harriers often nest in loose colonies of 15-20 pairs. With a high population density, the distance between neighboring nests varies within 0.5-2.0 km, in other areas 2-10 km. During the breeding season, the harrier carefully guards its territory, driving away other birds from the nest and even attacking humans. While courting a female, the male performs acrobatic sketches in the air, flying high into the sky and, spinning, falling down. A small clearing is chosen as a place to build a nest, usually not far from water and at a distance of 10-200 m (less often up to 600 m) from a vast open space - a field, meadow, swamp or river valley, where birds get their food. The nest is a relatively flat building with a shallow tray, woven from dry thin twigs and lined with grass stems, which is located directly on the ground, in thickets of tall grass or on water - in the latter case, willow bushes sticking out of the water, sedge hummocks or other plant bases are used origin. The diameter of the nest is usually 500-600 mm, height 250-300 mm, tray diameter 150-200 mm. The construction is mainly done by the female, while the male is engaged in foraging. For roosting, birds use small elevations - stumps, fence posts, etc.

Eggs are laid once a year, in mid-May - early June. The clutch consists of 3-7 eggs, white with a bluish tint and sometimes with rare brownish-ocher specks. One female incubates almost all the time. However, she may leave the nest to the male for a few minutes. The incubation period is approximately 31-32 days, the hatched chicks are covered with white down with a grayish-ocher tint. During the incubation period and the first time after the chicks hatch, the male is engaged in obtaining food, which he throws into the nest from above, while the female is busy feeding the young. About two weeks after the birth of the offspring, the male leaves the nest, and the female subsequently raises the chicks. At approximately 35 days of age, the chicks leave the nest and then disperse.

Australian marsh harrier

Swamp Harrier

(Circus approximans)

Distributed in most of Australia, with the exception of arid regions, as well as on the Pacific islands east of Australia (New Zealand, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia). Inhabits open wetlands.

The body length is 50-58 cm, the wingspan is 120-145 cm. The body weight of adult individuals ranges from 580 to 1100 g, with females noticeably larger than males. The general color is dark brown, becoming lighter with age.

It feeds primarily on terrestrial flightless or aquatic birds, rabbits and other small mammals, reptiles, frogs and fish. In search of prey, it flies low over the ground or water surface.

It nests on the ground or in a swamp; the nest is located among dense reeds; hills or hummocks are used as a foundation. There are from 2 to 7 eggs in a clutch. The female incubates for 31-34 days. The chicks fledge on the 28th day and fled around the 45th day after hatching.

Madagascar marsh harrier

Malagasy Harrier

(Circus macroceles)

Distributed in Madagascar and Comoros. In Madagascar it prefers marshy areas or meadows; in the Comoros it is more often found in dry areas or forests. It lives at an altitude of up to 1800 m above sea level.

The total body length is 42-55 cm, the female is slightly larger than the male. The male has a black back and a grayish head with dark streaks, the lower part of the body and rump are light, the tail is gray with dark transverse stripes, the ends and edges of the wings are black. The female has a more brownish overall color.

It feeds mainly on birds, such as the Madagascar partridge, and sometimes eats reptiles, frogs, rodents and large insects. While hunting, it flies low above the ground and dives down sharply upon noticing its prey. Sometimes it flies above the forest canopy in search of food.

The nest is built from grass and stems on the ground or a small hummock. The incubation period lasts 32-34 days. The chicks fledge at 42-45 days.

Reunion marsh harrier

Reunion Harrier

(Circus maillardi)

Endemic to Reunion Island, located in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. It lives in forested mountainous areas at an altitude of 300-700 m above sea level.

The body length is 42-55 cm, the female is larger than the male. The male's head is black, the back is dark with white streaks, the underparts and underwings are white, and the tail is gray. Females and young birds are dark brown in color.

It feeds on small mammals, birds, large insects, and sometimes eats small reptiles, frogs and carrion. It has wide and rounded wings, which allows it to maneuver well among trees.

The breeding season lasts from January to May. The nest is located on the ground. There are usually 2-3 white eggs in a clutch.

Long-winged Harrier

Long-winged Harrier

(Circus buffoni)

Distributed in South America: from central Argentina, where the birds are found only during the summer breeding season, north through eastern Brazil to Guyana, Venezuela and Colombia. Also seen on the island of Trinidad. Southern populations make minor migrations. Inhabits arid savannas, subtropical and tropical meadows, pastures and wetlands.

The body length is 46-60 cm, the wingspan is 119-155 cm, the weight of males is 390-460 g, females 400-640 g.

It feeds on small mammals, frogs and some species of birds. During the hunt, it hovers low above the surface; when it sees prey, it suddenly rushes down and grabs it with its sharp claws.

It builds nests on the ground among thick grass in damp places. There are usually 2 bluish-white eggs in the clutch.

Spotted Harrier

Spotted Harrier

(Circus assimilis)

Distributed in Australia, on the island of Sulawesi, the Lesser Sunda Islands, and is also rarely found in Tasmania. Inhabits open landscapes: fields, woodlands, meadows, shrublands, pastures and agricultural lands. Avoids dense forests. It stays at an altitude of up to 1500 m above sea level.

It is a slender bird with long legs and a long tail. The total body length is 50-60 cm, the wingspan is 121-147 cm, the weight of males is 412-537 g, the weight of females is 530-745 g. The upper part of the body is painted in blue-gray tones, the facial disc and lower part of the body are chestnut color. The belly and wings are mottled with small white spots. The ends of the wings are black. The tail is light with wide black stripes. Males and females are similar in appearance, but females are much larger.

The diet is based on small mammals such as bandicoots, kangaroo rats, rodents, and small ground birds, sometimes eating reptiles and large insects. When hunting, it hovers low above the ground in search of prey.

They live alone or in pairs. Unlike other harriers, nests are built on trees from dry branches and covered with green foliage. The breeding season lasts from July to December, but in Central Australia it can breed all year round. The clutch contains from 2 to 4 eggs, which the female incubates for 32-34 days. During this time, the male brings her food. Young spotted harriers leave the nest at 36-43 days of age, but remain dependent on the adults for at least another 6 weeks.

Black Harrier

Black Harrier

(Circus maurus)

Distributed in southern Africa: South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and southern Namibia. Inhabits bushy areas, open meadows and pastures. In winter, these harriers migrate north to drier habitats.

This harrier has black plumage with wide white stripes on the tail, white underwings and a white rump. The total body length is about 50 cm. Males and females are similar in appearance, although females are somewhat larger.

It feeds mainly on rodents and small birds, sometimes eating reptiles, bird eggs, large insects, and extremely rarely eats carrion.

Black harriers nest primarily during the rainy season, laying eggs between July and September. Nests are built on the ground, among thick grass or reeds. The clutch usually contains 3-4 eggs, which the female incubates for 34 days. The chicks fledge at 34-41 days.

Gray Harrier

Cinereous Harrier

(Circus cinereus)

Distributed from Tierra del Fuego north through Argentina, Chile and Paraguay to Southeast Brazil, then along the slopes of the Andes to Northern Colombia. Found in small numbers on the Falkland Islands. Inhabits open spaces: meadows, pastures, shrubby and marshy areas at altitudes up to 4500 m above sea level. Often found in high mountain meadows near large lakes. It is predominantly a sedentary bird, but populations from Patagonia migrate north in April - May and return to the breeding grounds in September - October.

The body length is 42-50 cm, the wingspan is 90-115 cm, the female is slightly larger than the male. The male is ash-gray with black wing tips and a rufous belly speckled with white. The tail is light with black transverse stripes. The general color of the female is brown, the belly is reddish with white speckles.

The diet of the gray harrier is highly variable due to its wide range of habitats. It feeds mainly on small rodents, birds, frogs, reptiles and large insects.

It is usually a silent bird, but the breeding season is accompanied by loud calls and aerial mating dances. Eggs are laid at the end of November, the chicks fledge in January. The nest is built on the ground among dense vegetation and is a heap of dry grass or reeds with a diameter of about 40 cm and a depth of up to 30 cm.

Steppe Harrier

Pallid Harrier

(Circus macrourus)

Breeds in Eurasia from Romania and Ukraine east to Altai, south-west Transbaikalia and North-West China, north to the Baltic states and central European Russia. Winters in sub-Saharan Africa, Pakistan, India and Southeast Asia. Inhabits open areas in the steppe and forest-steppe, both on the plains and in the lower mountain belt. Prefers forb-grass steppes, overgrown floodplains of lakes and rivers.

This is a small bird with rather narrow and sharp wings. The body length is 40-48 cm, the wingspan is 95-120 cm, the weight of males is about 315 g, while females are somewhat larger - 445 g. The male is pale gray on top, the chest and belly are white, the tips of the wings are black. The female has a brown back with buffy edges of feathers and a white rump; the underside is whitish with reddish longitudinal spots.

The diet of the steppe harrier is dominated by mice and gophers, as well as medium-sized birds, and less often by reptiles and insects. In search of food, the bird soars low over meadows and heathers.

It flies softly and smoothly, with slow wing beats. In the spring you can see the mating flight: the male soars high, turns over and dives down with a ringing cry. The voice is a ringing “geek-geek-geek” and a rattling “pirr” characteristic of harriers. The nest is located on the ground among thick grass or reeds. Lays eggs in May-June. The clutch contains 4-5 white eggs with small brown spots. The female incubates for 30 days, during which time the male carries food to her. Usually 2-3 chicks survive, and fledge after 35-40 days. In August-September, harriers leave their nesting areas and head south. Reaches sexual maturity at the age of 3-4 years.

Piebald Harrier

Pied Harrier

(Circus melanoleucos)

Breeds in East Asia: in Northern China and adjacent parts of Mongolia, in Russia from Transbaikalia to the Amur region. Migratory bird inhabiting the cultural landscape, meadows, swamps; preference is given to damp places. Winters in South and Southeast Asia.

Total length 43.5-52.5 cm, weight 310-550 g, wingspan 105-115 cm. Females are larger than males. In adult males (two years old and older), the head, back, middle of the wing are black, part of the wing and rump are white, the ventral side is white, the throat and chest are black. In adult females, the feathers on the dorsal side are dark brown, the ventral side is whitish. Young birds in their first annual plumage are colored similarly in both sexes: the dorsal side is dark brown, the rump is buffy-reddish, the ventral side is brownish-red. The iris in adult birds is yellow, in young birds it is brown. The beak and claws are black, the wax and paws are yellow.

The piebald harrier, like other harriers, takes its food from the ground. Catches small rodents, sometimes insectivores, frogs, small birds (especially chicks), and large insects.

In early May, the mating flight is observed; in mid-May, piebald harriers already have nests, usually built on the ground among dense grass or bushes. The clutch contains 4-5 eggs, white or whitish-greenish, sometimes slightly speckled. The female incubates mainly for about a month. The chicks hatch in June. Fledglings occur in the first half of August.