Mohrenweihe vs Grauweihe

Circus maurus compared with Circus cinereus

Key Differences

• Mohrenweihe is Endangered while Grauweihe is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Mohrenweihe	Grauweihe
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class same	Aves (Vögel)	Aves (Vögel)
Order same	Accipitriformes (Greifvögel)	Accipitriformes (Greifvögel)
Family same	Accipitridae (Hawks & Eagles)	Accipitridae (Hawks & Eagles)
Genus same	Circus	Circus
Species	Circus maurus	Circus cinereus

Evolutionary Relationship

Mohrenweihe and Grauweihe share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Circus.

Conservation Status

Mohrenweihe

EN — Endangered

Grauweihe

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Mohrenweihe	Grauweihe
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Mohrenweihe

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Found in Norway. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Grauweihe

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, and Norway.

Mohrenweihe

The Black Harrier (Circus maurus) is a species in the genus Circus. It is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Grauweihe

The cinereous harrier (Circus cinereus) is a medium-sized raptor in the family Accipitridae, found across South America, with a breeding range extending from Colombia and Venezuela south through the Andes and adjacent lowlands to Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands. It inhabits open grasslands, marshes, reedbeds, agricultural areas, and the high puna grasslands of the Andes, hunting low over the ground for small birds, rodents, lizards, and frogs. Like other harriers, the cinereous harrier exhibits marked sexual dimorphism: males are pale gray with black wingtips and a white rump, while females are brown and heavily streaked. The species undertakes seasonal migrations, with southern breeding populations moving northward in the austral winter. The cinereous harrier is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, reflecting its wide South American range and adaptability to a variety of open habitats. It is entirely absent from Europe and occurs nowhere near Norway; database records to the contrary are artifacts. Threats include habitat loss from wetland drainage, conversion of native grasslands to intensive agriculture, and persecution from farmers who incorrectly blame harriers for poultry losses. The species can adapt to agricultural landscapes including rice paddies and open pastures, which provides some buffer against habitat loss.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway