(Part of the) common name of all species of the genus Circus (family Accipitridae, order Falconiformes). See also 'hawk(s)'. Harriers (cosmopolitan in distribution) inhabit open country, also in the form of cultivated land or swamps. They are mainly brown in colour, but in some species the male is greyish, while two species (non-European) are black and white. They are slender, long-winged and -tailed birds with long legs and somewhat owlish heads. Harriers have similar habits all over the world and fly low over the ground, traversing it in every direction, before dropping onto prey. Prey consists of small mammals, frogs, reptiles and some insects, but occasionally also a bird on the ground (which they can't catch on the wing). When the male is bringing prey to the nest, it characteristically passes it to the female in flight. Unlike most birds-of-prey they roost and nest on the ground. Some (northerly) species are migratory and tend to be gregarious during that time.

Alternative form for harriers : harrier.