HARRIERS

1.HEN HARRIER SIZE; slimmer. Length 45-50 centimeters (18-20). FIELD CHARACTERS; A slender, graceful raptor normally seen quartering the ground, gliding effortlessly on outstretched narrow wings, rising and failing to the undulations. Male; Above, heads, mantle, back and tail bluish Grey. Upper tail-coverts pure white. Primaries black. Below, chin, throat and upper breast like back; rest white. In flight black wing tips contrasting with blue-Grey plumage, and the glistening white rump-patch, diagnostic pointers. Female; Indistinguishable from female Montage's Harrier. Above, dark brown with white rump-patch and dark-barred tail. Below, pale rufous-brown with dark streaks. A well-developed buff collar or ruff. STATUS, HABITAT, ETC, uncommon. Winter visitor and/or transient on spring and autumn passage. Foothills and upto 2500 meters; open hillsides and grassy undulating valleys. Food; lizards, small birds, rodents, etc. Call; Unrecorded. Very silent in winter.

2. PIED HARRIER SIZE; slimmer. Length 45-50 centimeters (18-20 inches). FIELD CHARACTERS; Male. A slender black-and-white hawk. Head, mantle, throat and breast black. Rest of underparts, and rump, white. Tail is Grey. Wings Grey, with a black band across upper surface (median coverts) and broad black tip (primates) conspicuous in flight. Female. Dark brown above, with whitish rump and some white on nape; rufous below. Indistinguishable from other female harriers without much practice. YOUNG BIRDS; like adult female but with rufous edges to the head and neck feathers; whitish nuchal patch prominent. STATUS, HABITAT, ETC; winter visitor to the duars and lower hills. Uncommon. Recorded at 1200 meters; possibly occurs higher during spring and autumn migration.

3. OSPREY SIZE; lenght 60 centimeters (24 inches). FIELD CHARACTERS; A water-frequenting fish-eating raptor. Above, dark brown with white-streaked partially tufted head, and a prominent black band running from eye to nape. Below, pure white with a conspicuous brownish gorget across upper breast. Sexes alike: female larger. In overhead aspect white underside with brown breast-band, closely barred pointed wings with black patches at the "wrists" and barred squarish tail, and habit of hovering over water, diagnostic. STATUS, HABITAT, ETC; mainly winters visitor, September to March. Breeds(rarely) between 2000 and 3300 meters. Affects broad rivers dammed reservoirs, lakes and tarns. Keeps singly perched on trees or stacks, or quartering the waterspread 20 or 30 meters above with slow deliberate wing beats and gliding. Stops in mid air now and again and hovers cumbrously to investigate, legs dangling in readiness. Close wings and hurls itself on quarry, sometimes submerging completely. Food; exclusively fish. CALL: seldom heard in winter.

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