Eastern Marsh Harrier vs Lizard Buzzard

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

Lizard Buzzard

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

Medium279 gWoodland

The lizard buzzard is a smallish stocky raptor with a total body length of 35–37 cm and a wingspan of about 79 cm. Males weigh 246 g, females 304 g on average. The upperparts, head and breast are grey. There is a vertical black line on the white throat, which distinguishes this species from all other raptors. The belly is white with fine dark barring. The underwings are white with dark tips. The tail is black with a white tip and a single white band. The eyes are dark reddish brown to black. The cere and legs are red to orange red. Sexes are similar.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Barlowjon at English Wikipedia · Public domain

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