Once again I venture into the Yenkathala/ Enkathala grasslands, home to as many as 191 bird & numerous wildlife species like the Indian Grey Mongoose. In winter these spectacular grasslands host some beautiful migrants - the Montagu’s & Pallid Harriers - which fly from Russia and Eastern Asian countries traveling over 5,000 kilometers to winter here in the dry sub-humid type of grasslands.

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After the series on the magnificent eagles of Kumbhargaon, it is now time for the smaller raptors - the harriers - inhabiting these lush grasslands. The area around Bhigwan and the River Bhima is vast and unique with diverse habitats ranging from the shallow wetland ecosystem of the Ujni backwaters to the surrounding rich farmlands and dry deciduous scrub forest with interspersed grasslands. The rich grasslands and fertile farms are home to an equally impressive list of birds, mammals and reptiles.

The pale or pallid harrier (Circus macrourus) is a migratory bird of prey of the harrier family. The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek. Circus is from kirkos, referring to a bird of prey named for its circling flight (kirkos, "circle") and macrourus is "long-tailed", from makros, "long" and -ouros "-tailed". This is a typical harrier, with long wings held in a shallow V in its low flight. It also resembles other harriers in having distinct male and female plumages. Males are ghostly gray above with black wingtip wedges. Females more difficult to separate from other harriers; pay attention to the underwings with their barred primaries and dark secondaries. Juveniles are rufous and similar to Montagu’s, but appear dark rather than pale faced.

The Pallid harrier is not globally threatened but is currently considered Near Threatened (Extinction Risk).

With that as the prelude I have this blog & video on the Pallid Harrier as the first of a three part series on the harriers of Kumbhargaon.

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