About the Western Marsh Harrier
The western marsh harrier is a large harrier, a bird of prey from temperate and subtropical western Eurasia and adjacent Africa. It is also known as the Eurasian marsh harrier. Formerly, a number of relatives were included in C. aeruginosus, which was then known as "marsh harrier". The related taxa are now generally considered to be separate species: the eastern marsh harrier, the Papuan harrier of eastern Asia and the Wallacea, the swamp harrier of Australasia and the Madagascar marsh harrier of the western Indian Ocean islands.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The western marsh harrier is 48 to 56 cm (19 to 22 in) in length, has a wingspan of 115 to 130 cm (45 to 51 in) and a weight of 400 to 650 g (14 to 23 oz) in males and 550 to 800 g (19 to 28 oz) in females. It is a large, bulky harrier, larger than other European harriers, with fairly broad wings, and is sexually dimorphic. The male's plumage is mostly a cryptic reddish-brown with lighter yellowish streaks, which are particularly prominent on the breast. The head and shoulders are mostly pale greyish-yellowish.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Western Marsh Harrier sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Barbados, Vietnam, Liechtenstein.
When to see it
Peak activity in April · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargusSexual dimorphism is particularly apparent in the plumage of this species.
Swamp HarrierCircus approximansThe swamp harrier is largely dark brown, becoming lighter with age, and has a distinct white rump.
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusThe hen harrier is 41–52 cm (16–20 in) long with a 97–122 cm (38–48 in) wingspan.
Side by side: Hen Harrier vs Western Marsh Harrier · Montagu's Harrier vs Western Marsh Harrier · Swamp Harrier vs Western Marsh Harrier
Learn the Western Marsh Harrier for real
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