Pallid Harrier

Armenian Name:	Տափաստանային մկնաճուռակ
Species Status:	Threatened Species - Species of Special Concern

Resident Status:	Year-round visitor
Abundance:	Uncommon
Length:	40-48 cm, Wing Span:95-120 cm
Distribution Map:	Map 37.
Adult:	Male is light gray above, whitish below. Small dark gray patch on wingtips visible in flight. Female is gray-brown above with pale area behind dark facial border; light brown to white below with brown and red-brown streaking, most dense on breast. In flight, shows narrow dull white rump patch and dark secondaries above; from below, pale inner primaries contrast with dark secondaries. Open wing in good light shows whitish crescent near base of the primaries on underwing. Inner primaries lack terminal band; secondaries show dark terminal band that widens toward body.
Juvenile:	Dark brown with orange feather edges above, unstreaked orange below. Prominent pale neck collar, fine white crescents above and below eye, and dark cheek mark reaching base of lower mandible.
Similar Species:	Female and juvenile difficult to separate from Montagu's Harrier, but have white area behind dark facial border and whitish crescent near base of the primaries on underwing.
Behavior:	Flight often appears fast and straight.
Habitat:	Mountain steppe and broad flat valleys. Widespread on migration.
Food:	Small mammals, birds, reptiles.