BLACK HARRIER

Fewer than 1 300 Black Harriers remain in the wild, making them one of the most threatened raptors in Africa. Their population is small and fragmented, and is still declining at 2.3% per year

Black Harriers are found mainly in South Africa, particularly in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and parts of the Northern Cape. They depend on open landscapes such as coastal or montane fynbos, renosterveld and grasslands for breeding and hunting. But they do range far and wide, and birds are found on the far northwest Namibian coast around the ephemeral rivers and on migration they occur in Lesotho and as far north as the Devon grasslands just east of Johannesburg. They have the smallest range of any continental species of harrier.

Black Harriers are Endangered due to habitat loss and degradation in their favoured breeding areas and collisions with man-made infrastructure such as wind turbines and powerlines. Climate change, often seen as a thing of the future, is affecting our birds now, through reduced rainfall and increasing temperatures. Both are detrimental to harriers who rely on good rains for nesting areas and to promote good mouse populations. This will ultimately reduce the areas that are suitable for breeding and reduce their already tiny population. Ironically, wind turbines designed to combat climate change are killing harriers at an unsustainable rate and also threatening their long-term survival.

The Black Harrier (Circus maurus) is a medium-sized bird of prey found only in southern Africa. This striking raptor, with its charcoal-black plumage, white rump and long barred tail, is one of Africa’s most endangered birds. Unlike most other raptors that breed on cliffs or in trees, harriers breed on the ground. They also employ a unique hunting method known as ‘quartering’, which involves flying low over shrublands or grasslands, searching for small mammals (mice) and birds. They are one of 16 species worldwide that probably evolved from forest dwelling sparrowhawks (accipiters) between 11 and 13 million years ago. The Black Harrier’s closest relative is ironically the palest harrier – the Pallid Harrier – that lives in the Steppes of eastern Europe and Russia and still comes to check up on its cousin every now and again in the summer.

You can help protect Black Harriers by supporting conservation organisations that are working to protect Black Harriers, including the Black Harrier Task Force (currently chaired by the Overberg Renosterveld Trust). 

As a landowner, you can ensure that you avoid using barbed wire on your fences, particularly on the higher strands. If a wind farm development is proposed on your land, or nearby, you can contact the Black Harrier Task Force to learn more about whether or not Black Harriers are known from your area, as these are often missed in poor-quality Environmental Impact Assessments. 

As a birder, naturalist or landowner, if you suspect harrier breeding activity in your area, please report it to the Black Harrier Task Force. 

If you see a Black Harrier that is in need of a wildlife rescue, contact the Black Harrier Task Force. 

And of course, help us to spread awareness about this Endangered species by referring neighbours and colleagues to this website dedicated to conserving Black Harriers.

Black Harriers mainly feed on small mammals and birds., but will also take reptiles where mice and birds become scarce. They hunt by flying low over the landscape, using their keen eyesight and rounded owl-like facial disc to spot and hear prey. Research has shown that like owls, they can pinpoint a mouse unseen, beneath the vegetation, and catch it unseen. They are not as accurate as owls, but research has also shown that harriers occasionally hunt at night when nestling demands are high.

Black Harriers are most often seen in the Western Cape, particularly in strandveld, renosterveld and fynbos landscapes. They are also found in parts of the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape, depending on the time of year and rainfall events – harriers are very nomadic, following good rains which result in booms in their favourite prey (mouse) numbers.

Most Black Harriers are found in South Africa, although they occasionally visit, and possibly even breed in Lesotho and Namibia. In Namibia young harriers have been recorded in the ephemeral river beds of the Hoanib and the Ugab Rivers, strongly suggesting that they breed there  Their global population is confined to southern Africa.

Like other raptors, Black Harriers are an important indicator of healthy ecosystems. Why is that? Because without a healthy prey base underpinned by an intact and healthy ecosystem, species like raptors at the top of the food chain cannot survive.  Protecting them helps conserve threatened landscapes like renosterveld and fynbos, with their rich plant diversity. Thus protecting the habitat of the Endangered Black Harrier benefits numerous other species.