Spotted Harrier

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Spotted Harrier

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Falconiformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Circus
Species:	C. assimilis

Binomial name

Circus assimilis
Jardine & Selby, 1828

The Spotted Harrier, Circus assimilis, also known as the Smoke Hawk, is a large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. Its wing length ranges between 375-470 mm, with females being larger.

1 Identification
2 Range
3 Habitat
4 Food
5 Nesting
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Identification

Similar to Swamp Harrier, distinguished by grey upperparts, chestnut facial disc and dark rump..

[edit] Range

The Spotted Harrier inhabits Sulawesi, the Lesser Sunda Islands and is sparsely distributed throughout mainland Australia.

[edit] Habitat

Open country, especially arid and semiarid regions.

[edit] Food

Ground birds, rabbits, rodents and lizards.

[edit] Nesting

This species usually nests in trees, building a platform of twigs lined with green leaves for the clutch of 2-4 eggs. The incubation period is about 33 days, with chicks fledging about 37 days after hatching.

[edit] References

BirdLife International. (2006). Species factsheet: Circus assimilis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 4/12/2006
Marchant, S.; & Higgins, P.J. (Eds). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Vol,2: Raptors to Lapwings. Oxford University Press: Melbourne. ISBN 0-19-553069-1