INSECTS
Insects such as grasshoppers make up a large part of their diet.
Feeding
Feeding
↗ An ally of farmers, it hunts agricultural pests.
The Montagu's harrier feeds mainly on insects (e.g. grasshoppers), but also on small vertebrates such as birds, particularly small passerines, reptiles (e.g. lizards) and mammals, mainly rats. To hunt, it flies low at a constant speed along the edges of fields.
↗ It does not hunt game prey.
Although it has the terms “hunter” and “hunting” in its Portuguese common name, it is very rare and unlikely to hunt game prey such as wild rabbits and red-legged partridges.
Diet
SMALL MAMMALS
It also consumes small mammals, such as mice.
Photograph Marco Neves
Passerines
Passerines are also part of their diet.
REPTILES
It can also prey on reptiles such as snakes and lizards.
In the image, a Montagu's harrier with a western three-toed skink (Chalcides striatus).