African Marsh Harrier

Circus ranivorus

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernVertebratesWetlandPlatform nestLarge · 507 g

ID tip

African Marsh harrier females are larger than males and they are 44–47 centimetres (17–19 in) in length, with females being about 30% heavier than males (Simmons and Simmons 2000). Adults, (like the male bird right) have yellow eyes, but brown eyes when immature. Both sexes are mostly brown with pale streakings on the head, breast, forewing and rufous on the thighs and the belly. Adult males differ from females in that they have a pale grey wash to the dorsal secondaries and primaries. The female's are brown.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the African Marsh Harrier

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.

Where to see the African Marsh Harrier

Regular range

The map shades 19 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

About the African Marsh Harrier

The African marsh harrier is a bird of prey belonging to the harrier genus Circus. It is largely resident in wetland habitats in southern, central and eastern Africa from South Africa north to South Sudan.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Side by side: African Marsh Harrier vs Eastern Marsh Harrier · African Marsh Harrier vs Long-winged Harrier · African Marsh Harrier vs Cinereous Harrier · African Marsh Harrier vs Spotted Harrier

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