gavião-cinza vs Komodo Dragon

Circus cinereus compared with Varanus komodoensis

Key Differences

gavião-cinza is Least Concern while Komodo Dragon is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	gavião-cinza	Komodo Dragon
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (cordados)	Chordata (cordados)
Class	Aves (ave)	Reptilia (réptil)
Order	Accipitriformes (Hawks & Eagles)	Squamata (Escamados)
Family	Accipitridae (Hawks & Eagles)	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)
Genus	Circus	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)
Species	Circus cinereus	Varanus komodoensis

Evolutionary Relationship

gavião-cinza and Komodo Dragon share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (cordados)

View Phylum: Chordata

Conservation Status

gavião-cinza

LC — Least Concern

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	gavião-cinza	Komodo Dragon
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	30 years
Average Length	—	2.6 m
Average Weight	—	70.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

gavião-cinza

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, and Norway.

Komodo Dragon

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 4 distinct biome types spanning the Australasia and Indomalayan realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

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

gavião-cinza

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.