Swamp Harrier
| Swamp Harrier | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Adult female Swamp Harrier with a hare | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Falconiformes (or Accipitriformes, q.v.) |
| Family: | Accipitridae |
| Genus: | Circus |
| Species: | C. approximans |
| Binomial name | |
| Circus approximans Peale, 1848 | |
The Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans) also known as the Marsh Harrier, Australasian Harrier, Kāhu, Swamp-hawk or New Zealand Hawk is a large, slim bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.
Description
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 50 to 58 cm (20–23 in), and the wingspan is 120 to 145 cm. The recorded weights of adults range from 580 to 1100 g, and females are significantly larger than the males.
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Adult male soaring in flight
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Immature flying in Victoria, Australia
Distribution and habitat
The Swamp Harrier is widespread through Australasia and many islands in the south-west Pacific region, including much of Australia (except the arid region), New Zealand, Fiji, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. It is usually found in wetlands and well-watered open country.
Behaviour
Diet
The Swamp Harrier mainly feeds on ground birds and waterbirds, rabbits and other small mammals, reptiles, frogs, and fish. During the winter months harriers feed to a large extent on carrion, including roadkill.
Breeding
This species nests on the ground, often in swamps, on a mound in reeds or other dense vegetation. The clutch size may range from two to seven, but is usually three or four. The incubation period is about 33 days, with chicks fledging about 45 days after hatching.
See also
- Karearea, or New Zealand Falcon
Notes
- ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Circus approximans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
References
- BirdLife International (2006). Species factsheet: Circus approximans. 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.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Circus approximans. |
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Wikispecies has information related to: Circus approximans |
- Illustration of Swamp Harrier by J.G Keulemans for Buller's Birds of New Zealand, second edition.
- Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust - The national centre for the conservation, education and advocacy of birds of prey in New Zealand. Location: Rotorua, NZ.