Page 134 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

BIRDS OF PREY
Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae Species Circus aeruginosus
Marsh Harrier pale head

pale head brown
back
markings
silvery grey grey on
midwings wings
broad black
wingtips
dark brown
plumage IMMATURE MALE
cream patch
MALE
on wings
square grey tail very dark creamy
cap and
broad wings held up brown throat
in “V” while gliding plumage

FEMALE
dark
IN FLIGHT belly
MALE

FLIGHT: low, steady or rolling, wings raised in
obvious “V” in short glides; soars well.
ong-winged and long-tailed, harriers fly
Llow across open ground or marshland.The FEMALE
biggest and heaviest of them, the Marsh Harrier can be taken for a
dark Buzzard or a Black Kite when soaring. It is closely associated
with reedbeds, but may be seen over all kinds of open ground,
especially flat pastures with ditches, when hunting or on migration.
It often perches on bush tops or trees in the middle of a marsh for
long spells. Males are generally smaller than females; they may breed
in largely brown immature plumage.
VOICE Shrill kee-yoo, chattering kyek-ek-ek-ek or kyi-yi-yi-yi.
NESTING Large platform of reed stems among dense reeds over
water; 4 or 5 eggs; 1 brood;April–July. FLIGHT PATTERN
FEEDING Hunts low over marshes, diving to catch small birds, Like all harriers, the Marsh Harrier has a slow flap and
wildfowl, small mammals, and frogs. long glide flight, but with a heavier, less buoyant action.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Widespread north to Great Britain
pale band on (rare) and S Scandinavia, in reedy
forewings areas or long grass in marshes.
streaked N and E breeders move south in
underside autumn; some W European birds
twists tail
in flight remain all year, over marshes and
flat, open countryside near coasts.
HEN HARRIER 2
similar to 32; BLACK KITE Seen in the UK
see p.133 see p.131 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 48–55cm (19–22in) Wingspan 1.1–1.25m (3 1 ⁄2 –4ft) Weight 400–800g (14–29oz)
Social Pairs/Family groups Lifespan Up to 15 years Status Secure
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