Eastern Marsh Harrier vs Swamp Harrier

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

Swamp Harrier

Circus approximans

Large746 gWetland

The swamp harrier is largely dark brown, becoming lighter with age, and has a distinct white rump. It hunts by flying slowly, low to the ground, on upswept wings. The body length is 48 to 62 cm (19 to 24.5 in), and the wingspan is 118 to 145 cm (3 ft 10 in to 4 ft 9 in). The recorded weights of adults range from 580 to 1,100 g (1.28 to 2.43 lb). Females are significantly larger than the males. In New Zealand, 54 males averaged 640 g (1.41 lb) and 66 females averaged 870 g (1.92 lb).

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: William Harland · CC BY 4.0

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