Prakruti Parichay
AccipitridaeCircus

Eastern Marsh Harrier

Circus (aerugtnosut spltonotus

43–54 cmLarge
Beak
—
Feet
—
Crest
No crest

Winter visitor, mainly to NE India and Bangladesh. Differs markedly from Eurasian Marsh, and in some plumages could be confused with Pied and Hen Harriers. Compared with Pied Harrier. it is larger, has broader wings and tail. and is stouter-bodied with more prominen thead. Adult male as black streaking on whitish head and breast. and has black mantle and median coverts with feathers boldly edged with white. Head and mantle can appear mainly black on some. and is then not unlike adult male Pied Harrier. but is never as clean-cutin appearance as that species (i.e. breast is streaked, mantle and back show some white fringes. and lacks clear - cut black bar across median coverts and broad white leading edge to wing). Young males can appear similar to female Pied; small size. finer build and prominent barring across tail are useful features for Pi ed. Adult female hes white uppertail-coverts. greyish flight feathers and tail with dark barring. heavily streaked head and breast. and broad diffuse rufous streaking on underparts. Secondaries on underwing appear grey and diffusely barred. with paler patch at base of primaries. Structural differences and heavily marked underbody and underwing are best features for separation from female Pied. Wh ite ' rump ' band recalls female Hen or Pallid Harriers. but patterning and coloration of upperwing, underwing and underparts is otherwise rather different. Juvenile is rather dark, with cream breast - band and pale patch at base of underside of primaries; head usually mainly cream, with variable dark streaking, and some with pronounced cream streaking on mantle. Can show white band across uppertail-coverts. Habits similar to those of Eurasian Marsh. Marshes. reedbeds. flooded fields. cultivation and open country in vicinity of water.

Average size
48.5 cm
Habitat
Habits similar to those of Eurasian Marsh. Marshes. reedbeds. flooded fields. cultivation and open country in vicinity of water.
Behaviour
Winter visitor, mainly to NE India and Bangladesh., as black streaking on whitish head and breast. and has black mantle and median coverts with feathers boldly edged with white. Head and mantle can appear mainly black on some. and is then not unlike adult male Pied Harrier. but is never as clean-cutin appearance as that species (i.e. breast is streaked, mantle and back show some white fringes. and lacks clear - cut black bar across median coverts and broad white leading edge to wing). Young males can appear similar to female Pied, small size. finer build and prominent barring across tail are useful features for Pi ed. Adult female hes white uppertail-coverts. greyish flight feathers and tail with dark barring. heavily streaked head and breast. and broad diffuse rufous streaking on underparts. Secondaries on underwing appear grey and diffusely barred. with paler patch at base of primaries. Structural differences and heavily marked underbody and underwing are best features for separation from female Pied. Wh ite ' rump ' band recalls female Hen or Pallid Harriers. but patterning and coloration of upperwing, underwing and underparts is otherwise rather different. Juvenile is rather dark, with cream breast - band and pale patch at base of underside of primaries, head usually mainly cream, with variable dark streaking, and some with pronounced cream streaking on mantle. Can show white band across uppertail-coverts.

About this bird

Winter visitor, mainly to NE India and Bangladesh. Differs markedly from Eurasian Marsh, and in some plumages could be confused with Pied and Hen Harriers. Compared with Pied Harrier. it is larger, has broader wings and tail. and is stouter-bodied with more prominen thead. Adult male as black streaking on whitish head and breast. and has black mantle and median coverts with feathers boldly edged with white. Head and mantle can appear mainly black on some. and is then not unlike adult male Pied Harrier. but is never as clean-cutin appearance as that species (i.e. breast is streaked, mantle and back show some white fringes. and lacks clear - cut black bar across median coverts and broad white leading edge to wing). Young males can appear similar to female Pied; small size. finer build and prominent barring across tail are useful features for Pi ed. Adult female hes white uppertail-coverts. greyish flight feathers and tail with dark barring. heavily streaked head and breast. and broad diffuse rufous streaking on underparts. Secondaries on underwing appear grey and diffusely barred. with paler patch at base of primaries. Structural differences and heavily marked underbody and underwing are best features for separation from female Pied. Wh ite ' rump ' band recalls female Hen or Pallid Harriers. but patterning and coloration of upperwing, underwing and underparts is otherwise rather different. Juvenile is rather dark, with cream breast - band and pale patch at base of underside of primaries; head usually mainly cream, with variable dark streaking, and some with pronounced cream streaking on mantle. Can show white band across uppertail-coverts. Habits similar to those of Eurasian Marsh. Marshes. reedbeds. flooded fields. cultivation and open country in vicinity of water.

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Eastern Marsh Harrier is bigger than A aman iccbe Brown Coucal but smaller than Booted Eagle.

This bird

Eastern Marsh Harrier

Circus (aerugtnosut spltonotus

43–54 cm