This largest of all harrier species was named after James Eyles, former director of the Nelson and West Coast Museums. It was the size of a small eagle, had the body structure of a giant goshawk, and highly directional hearing like an owl. Prior to its extinction it was the top predator in the North Island terrestrial ecosystem, and was second only to Haast's eagle in the South Island. The small wings and powerful legs and talons of Eyles’ harrier suggest that it was a fast flyer, capable of hunting flighted birds in forest habitats. Its favoured prey was the New Zealand pigeon, but North Island birds were large enough to prey on moa species up to 40 kg. Eyles’ harrier became extinct soon after Polynesian arrival, probably due to a combination of habitat destruction, a decline in prey species, and human hunting. Introduced mammals (the Pacific rat and Polynesian dog) may have preyed on chicks.

Identification                                                                                                   

Giant, goshawk-like harrier, the size of a small golden eagle. Estimated to be up to four times heavier than the swamp harrier, with feet and talons that were approximately 50% larger. It is unlikely that these two harrier species co-existed in New Zealand, as swamp harrier remains started to appear in the fossil record about the time that those of Eyles’ harrier disappeared.

Similar species: the much smaller swamp harrier.

Distribution and habitat

Pre-human bone remains show that Eyles’ harrier was widespread in dry forest and shrubland from Canterbury northwards in the South Island, and from the Wairarapa to the Coromandel Peninsula in the North Island, from sea level to the subalpine zone.

Population

Unknown but probably sparse.

Threats and conservation

Thought to have became extinct in prehistoric times due to a combination of human-induced impacts. Its forest and shrubland habitat was burned off by humans and replaced with grassland, predation by introduced Pacific rats probably caused a decline in its prey species, and hunting by humans is apparent from the presence of harrier bones in middens, and use of its bones to make tools. The Pacific rat and Polynesian dog may have preyed on its chicks. Unlike the now-abundant swamp harrier, Eyles' harrier was probably too heavy and small-winged for the gliding and soaring necessary to hunt productively over open grassland areas.

Breeding

Finds of prey remains in rock shelters and cave entrances suggest that Eyles' harrier may have nested at such sites where available.

Behaviour and ecology

The skull structure of Eyles' harrier suggests it had highly directional owl-like hearing. Until human arrival, it was the top predator in the North Island terrestrial ecosystem, and was second only to Haast's eagle in the South Island (Haast’s eagle was apparently confined to the South Island). The larger North Island form of Eyles' harrier was approximately the size and weight of the smallest living golden eagle subspecies. It had relatively compact wings and powerful long legs, feet and talons, indicating that it hunted like a goshawk, hunting fast-moving prey in forest habitats.

Food

Kereru (New Zealand pigeon) was a favoured prey species. North Island kokako, kaka and Finsch's duck bones have also been found in a North Island Eyles' harrier midden site. North Island Eyles' harriers were large enough to prey on some of the smaller moa species.

Weblink

Wikipedia

References

Gill, B.; Martinson, P. 1991. New Zealand's extinct birds. Random Century, New Zealand.

Szabo, M. 2006. Extinct birds of New Zealand: a preview. Forest & Bird, November 2006, Issue 322: 22-24.

Tennyson, A.; Martinson, P. 2006. Extinct birds of New Zealand. Wellington, Te Papa Press.

Worthy, T.H. 2010. Accipitriformes. Pp. 169-173. In: Checklist Committee (OSNZ) 2010. Checklist of the birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica (4th edn). Wellington, Ornithological Society of New Zealand & Te Papa Press.

Worthy, T.H.; Holdaway, R.N. 2002. The lost world of the moa: prehistoric life in New Zealand. Christchurch, Canterbury University Press.

Recommended citation

Szabo, M.J. 2013 [updated 2022]. Eyles' harrier | kērangi. In Miskelly, C.M. (ed.) New Zealand Birds Online. www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz