Eyles' Harrier
Encyclopedia
Eyles' Harrier is an extinct bird of prey
which lived in New Zealand
.
It was an example of island gigantism
, weighing over twice as much as a Swamp Harrier
. It was a generalist predator, taking prey of the same size as small eagle
species do – land animals weighing one or a few kilogram
s. In its hunting strategy, however, it was more adapted to avian
prey, as sufficiently large mammals were entirely absent from New Zealand. Its shape differed from that of most other harrier
s, and it was initially mistaken for a huge hawk
. Presumably, it hunted diurnal birds in a manner similar to goshawk
s.
A noted explorer, Charles Edward Douglas, claims in his journals that he had an encounter with two raptor
s of immense size in the Landsborough River
valley (probably in the 1870s), and shot and ate them. These birds might have been a last remnant of the mighty pouakai (Haast's Eagle
), but this is very unlikely: there had not been sufficient numbers of suitable prey for a population of Haast's Eagle to maintain itself for about half a millennium at that time; furthermore 19th-century Māori lore was quite adamant that the pouakai was a bird not seen in living memory.
Still, Douglas' observations on wildlife are generally trustworthy; a more probable explanation, given that the alleged three-metre wingspan of Douglas' birds is unlikely to have been more than a rough estimate, is that the birds were Eyles' Harriers – modern estimates tend to assume that a 3-metre wingspan is decidedly large even for Haast's Eagle; that of Eyles' Harrier was probably somewhat short of 2 metres. Although the Eyles' Harrier also went extinct in prehistoric times, its dietary habits alone make it a more likely candidate for late survival.
This species was named for Jim Eyles
, paeleontologist and former director of the Nelson Provincial Museum
and the West Coast Museum.
Bird of prey
Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....
which lived in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
It was an example of island gigantism
Island gigantism
Island gigantism or insular giantism is a biological phenomenon in which the size of animals isolated on an island increases dramatically in comparison to their mainland relatives....
, weighing over twice as much as a Swamp Harrier
Swamp Harrier
The Swamp Harrier also known as the Marsh Harrier, Australasian Harrier, Kāhu, Swamp-hawk or New Zealand Hawk is a large, slim bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.-Description:...
. It was a generalist predator, taking prey of the same size as small eagle
Eagle
Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...
species do – land animals weighing one or a few kilogram
Kilogram
The kilogram or kilogramme , also known as the kilo, is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units and is defined as being equal to the mass of the International Prototype Kilogram , which is almost exactly equal to the mass of one liter of water...
s. In its hunting strategy, however, it was more adapted to avian
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
prey, as sufficiently large mammals were entirely absent from New Zealand. Its shape differed from that of most other harrier
Harrier (bird)
A harrier is any of the several species of diurnal hawks forming the Circinae sub-family of the Accipitridae family of birds of prey. Harriers characteristically hunt by flying low over open ground, feeding on small mammals, reptiles, or birds....
s, and it was initially mistaken for a huge hawk
Hawk
The term hawk can be used in several ways:* In strict usage in Australia and Africa, to mean any of the species in the subfamily Accipitrinae, which comprises the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis and Megatriorchis. The large and widespread Accipiter genus includes goshawks,...
. Presumably, it hunted diurnal birds in a manner similar to goshawk
Goshawk (disambiguation)
-Bird species:* Species of birds of prey, mainly in the genus Accipiter:** Northern Goshawk, Accipiter gentilis** Crested Goshawk, Accipiter trivirgatus** Sulawesi Goshawk, Accipiter griseiceps** Red-chested Goshawk, Accipiter toussenelii...
s.
A noted explorer, Charles Edward Douglas, claims in his journals that he had an encounter with two raptor
Bird of prey
Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....
s of immense size in the Landsborough River
Landsborough River
The Landsborough River is located in New Zealand's South Island. A major tributary of the Haast River, it flows southwest, parallel with the Southern Alps, for 50 kilometres from its source five kilometres north of Mount Hopkins to meet the Haast 12 kilometres below the Haast Pass.In April 2005 the...
valley (probably in the 1870s), and shot and ate them. These birds might have been a last remnant of the mighty pouakai (Haast's Eagle
Haast's Eagle
Haast's Eagle was a species of massive eagles that once lived on the South Island of New Zealand. The species was the largest eagle known to have existed. Its prey consisted mainly of gigantic flightless birds that were unable to defend themselves from the striking force and speed of these eagles,...
), but this is very unlikely: there had not been sufficient numbers of suitable prey for a population of Haast's Eagle to maintain itself for about half a millennium at that time; furthermore 19th-century Māori lore was quite adamant that the pouakai was a bird not seen in living memory.
Still, Douglas' observations on wildlife are generally trustworthy; a more probable explanation, given that the alleged three-metre wingspan of Douglas' birds is unlikely to have been more than a rough estimate, is that the birds were Eyles' Harriers – modern estimates tend to assume that a 3-metre wingspan is decidedly large even for Haast's Eagle; that of Eyles' Harrier was probably somewhat short of 2 metres. Although the Eyles' Harrier also went extinct in prehistoric times, its dietary habits alone make it a more likely candidate for late survival.
This species was named for Jim Eyles
Jim Eyles
James Roy Eyles OBE was a New Zealand archaeologist.Born in 1926, Jim spent his early years living with his family at the Wairau Bar near Blenheim where, in 1939 as a schoolboy, he discovered early human skeletons and associated artefacts including necklaces, stone tools and moa egg...
, paeleontologist and former director of the Nelson Provincial Museum
Nelson Provincial Museum
The Nelson Provincial Museum, Pupuri Taonga O Te Tai Ao is a regional museum in the city of Nelson, New Zealand. The museum showcases the Nelson region's history, from geological origins to the stories of individuals and families....
and the West Coast Museum.