Malagasy Harrier
Circus macrosceles
The Malagasy Harrier (Circus macrosceles) is a legendary kites, old world vultures, eagles, and hawk found in 4 countries, weighing about 664 g. The Malagasy harrier is a bird of prey belonging to the marsh harrier group of harriers.
About the Malagasy Harrier
The Malagasy harrier is a bird of prey belonging to the marsh harrier group of harriers. It inhabits Madagascar and the Comoro Islands in the Indian Ocean. It was formerly regarded as a subspecies of the Réunion harrier but is increasingly treated as a separate species. It is also known as the Madagascar harrier, Madagascar marsh harrier or Malagasy marsh harrier.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
It is about 42–55 cm (17–22 in) long; the female is up to 13% larger than the male. The male has a blackish back and a greyer head with dark streaks. The underparts and rump are whitish and the tail is grey with dark bars. The forewings and wingtips are blackish while the secondaries are grey with dark bars. Females are browner than the males. The Réunion harrier is smaller and darker with shorter legs and shorter, more rounded wings. Males have a blacker head and plainer secondaries and tail.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Tanzania.
When to see it
Best months: July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in November. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Malagasy Harrier?
- It is about 42–55 cm (17–22 in) long; the female is up to 13% larger than the male. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Malagasy Harrier?
- The Malagasy Harrier is a large sized bird weighing about 664 g.
- Where can you see a Malagasy Harrier?
- The Malagasy Harrier occurs in 4 countries, including Madagascar, the Comoros and Mayotte.
- What birds look similar to a Malagasy Harrier?
- The Malagasy Harrier is most easily confused with the Papuan Harrier, the Reunion Harrier and the Black Harrier.
- Is the Malagasy Harrier endangered?
- The Malagasy Harrier is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Malagasy Harrier for real
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