African Marsh Harrier vs Eastern Marsh Harrier

African Marsh Harrier

Circus ranivorus

Large507 gWetland

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.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Diego Rubolini · CC BY 4.0

Eastern Marsh Harrier

Circus spilonotus

Large559 gWetland

It is 48 to 58 cm long with a wingspan of 113 to 137 cm; like most birds of prey, the female is usually larger than the male. The male's plumage is variable; typically the head, breast, back and wing-coverts are blackish with pale streaks. The rest of the wing is grey with black wingtips and a white front edge. The tail is grey, the rump is white and the underparts are mostly white. The female is dark brown with buff streaking on the head and underparts. The rump is often whitish and the tail has dark bars. Young birds are dark brown with buff on the head and a pale patch on the underwing.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by steve · Call · Ögiy, O'giinuur, Arkhangai, Mongolia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Wich'yanan L · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: African Marsh Harrier and Eastern Marsh Harrier.