Pallid Harrier

Males are ghostly gray above with black wingtip wedges. Females are 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. In flight, a bit bulkier than Montagu’s but much more buoyant than Hen Harrier. Found in steppes, wet grassland, agricultural areas and other open spaces. Sometimes forms flocks outside of the breeding season, occasionally mixing with other harrier species.

The Pallid Harrier lives in a wide range of habitats in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Northern Africa. It prefers open, grassy areas, and is known for its migratory behavior.

In Sri Lanka, the Pallid Harrier primarily feeds on lizards, as this is the most readily available prey in its open grassland habitats, although it will also eat small mammals like mice and occasionally small birds, depending on availability.