'Circus cyaneus' definitions:

Definition of 'Circus cyaneus'

From: WordNet
noun
Common harrier of North America and Europe; nests in marshes and open land [syn: marsh hawk, northern harrier, hen harrier, Circus cyaneus]

Definition of 'Circus cyaneus'

From: GCIDE
  • Hen \Hen\, n. [AS. henn, hen, h[ae]n; akin to D. hen, OHG. henna, G. henne, Icel. h?na, Dan. h["o]na; the fem. corresponding to AS. hana cock, D. haan, OHG. hano, G. hahn, Icel. hani, Dan. & Sw. hane. Prob. akin to L. canere to sing, and orig. meaning, a singer. Cf. Chanticleer.] (Zool.) The female of the domestic fowl; also, the female of grouse, pheasants, or any kind of birds; as, the heath hen; the gray hen. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: Used adjectively or in combination to indicate the female; as, hen canary, hen eagle, hen turkey, peahen. [1913 Webster]
  • Hen clam. (Zool.) (a) A clam of the Mactra, and allied genera; the sea clam or surf clam. See Surf clam. (b) A California clam of the genus Pachydesma.
  • Hen driver. See Hen harrier (below).
  • Hen harrier (Zool.), a hawk (Circus cyaneus), found in Europe and America; -- called also dove hawk, henharm, henharrow, hen driver, and usually, in America, {marsh hawk}. See Marsh hawk.
  • Hen hawk (Zool.), one of several species of large hawks which capture hens; esp., the American red-tailed hawk (Buteo borealis), the red-shouldered hawk ({Buteo lineatus}), and the goshawk. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Circus cyaneus'

From: GCIDE

Definition of 'Circus cyaneus'

From: GCIDE
  • Harrier \Har"ri*er\, n. [From Harry.]
  • 1. One who harries. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Zool.) One of several species of hawks or buzzards of the genus Circus which fly low and harry small animals or birds, -- as the European marsh harrier ({Circus [ae]ruginosus}), and the hen harrier (Circus cyaneus). [1913 Webster]
  • Harrier hawk (Zool.), one of several species of American hawks of the genus Micrastur. [1913 Webster]