How many species of harriers are there? In 1973 Ebel
Nieboer suggested there were ten species of harriers world wide and in 1988 Dean Amadon and John Bull added another three (giving full species status to subspecific several marsh harriers). From recent DNA work completed by Michael
Wink at the University of Heidelberg and just published in Harriers of the World: their behaviour and ecology, Simmons has suggested that there are not 13 but 16 species of harrier. This includes new full species status for the
Reunion (Circus maillardi) and Madagascar Harriers (C. macrosceles) on the Indian Ocean islands and the Northern Harrier (C. hudsonius) from North America. However there are two speceis for which no
material was available - the Pied Harrier of China, Siberia and Mongolia and the Papuan Harrier resident on the island of New Guinea. Rob Simmons and Michael Wink are still seeking material (blood or large feathers) for these
species and we would be grateful to hear from anyone working on these species or able to secure material from specimens not more than 20 years old. Please write or e-mail Rob Simmons at Many thanks Rob Dr Rob Simmons, National Biodiversity Programme Directorate of Environmental Affairs Ministry of Environment & Tourism
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