Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans)
[order] ACCIPITRIFORMES | [family] Accipitridae | [latin] Circus approximans | [authority] Peale, 1848 | [UK] Swamp Harrier | [FR] Busard de Gould | [DE] Sumpfweihe | [ES] Aguilucho lagunero del Pacifico | [NL] Australische bruine kiekendief
Subspecies
Genus
The genus Circus is a cosmopolitan genus of about ten species. They are medium-sized, slender hawks, the female being considerably larger than the male. They are characterised by long, narrow, rounded tails, small beaks and long, slender legs. The most notable characteristic is the owl-like ruff of facial feathers that cover unusually large ear openings – an adaptation not for low-light hunting, but to locate prey by their rustling and squeaking in tall grasses.
Physical charateristics
The Swamp Harrier is a large slim-bodied raptor, with long slender legs and a long tail, rounded at the tip. It is mainly dark brown above and the white rump is prominent. It has an owl-like face mask. The wings are long and broad, with 5 ‘fingers’ on the wing tips in flight. Females are larger with rufous underparts, while the smaller male is lighter underneath. The legs and eyes are yellow. This species has a slow sailing flight on up-swept wings, flying low over water. It is also known as the Marsh Harrier.
Listen to the sound of Swamp Harrier
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Australasia : widespread. The Swamp Harrier is widespread in Australasia and the South Pacific. It is the commonest raptor in New Zealand
Habitat
Typically seen flying low over open country, including lakes, swamps, wetlands, grasslands, coastal heaths, and croplands. Roosts on the ground, often in large communal roosts of 20 to 200 birds in New Zealand and, in Fiji, usually among long grass or sedges. Normally a solitary forager, but large groups sometimes congregate in areas of high food density in Fiji.
Reproduction
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