Pallid Harrier

Conservation Status:

An overall declining trend according to the IUCN report of 2023

Population Trends:

Habitat loss in breeding areas and pressures along migration routes continue to affect its numbers.

Population Size:

The global population is estimated at around 9,000-15,000 breeding pairs

Family:

Accipitridae family

Location:

Uganda

Habitat:

It favors open habitats such as savannas, grasslands, wetlands, and agricultural fields, where it hunts low over the ground for small birds, rodents, and insects. Sightings are often scattered but rewarding, especially in open country across the north and east.

Migration Pattern:

Non-breeding migrant, typically seen during the northern winter

Migration Distance:

This species is a true long-distance migrant, breeding across Eastern Europe and Central Asia and wintering in Africa, including Uganda. During migration, it can travel several thousand kilometers, crossing continents in one of the most remarkable journeys among raptors.

About this Bird:

A Graceful Traveler Across Continents

The Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) is a slender, elegant bird of prey, known for its buoyant flight and long-distance journeys. Belonging to the Accipitridae family, it is currently listed as Near Threatened, reflecting growing concern over its future.

A Bird of Open Horizons

The Pallid Harrier carries with it the story of connected landscapes from Eurasian steppes to African savannas. Its presence in Uganda is seasonal, but meaningful, reminding us that conservation must stretch beyond borders to protect the full journey of migratory birds.

Pallid Harrier

Conservation Status:

Population Trends:

Population Size:

Family:

Location:

Habitat:

Migration Pattern:

Migration Distance:

About this Bird:

A Graceful Traveler Across Continents

A Bird of Open Horizons

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