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A photo of a Eastern Marsh Harrier (Circus spilonotus), male
Eastern Marsh Harrier, Male

Eastern Marsh Harrier

Circus spilonotus

The eastern marsh harrier (Circus spilonotus) is a bird of prey belonging to the marsh harrier group of harriers. It was previously considered to be conspecific with the western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) but is now usually classified as a separate species. It has two subspecies: C. s. spilonotus in eastern Asia and C. s. spilothorax (Papuan harrier, perhaps a separate species) in New Guinea. It is 48 to 58 cm long with a wingspan of 113 to 137 cm; like most birds of prey, the female is usually larger than the male. The male's plumage is variable; typically the head, breast, back and wing-coverts are blackish with pale streaks. The rest of the wing is grey with black wingtips and a white front edge. The tail is grey, the rump is white and the underparts are mostly white. The female is dark brown with buff streaking on the head and underparts. The rump is often whitish and the tail has dark bars. Young birds are dark brown with buff on the head and a pale patch on the underwing. It is usually silent but has a mewing call which is most often uttered at roost sites.
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Eastern Marsh Harriers on Birda

Sightings

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Nichelle Eutsler
Saturday 25 Mar 2023 - 2:00pm
China
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Lucas Corneliussen
Tuesday 10 Jan 2023 - 3:13pm
Thailand
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Lucas Corneliussen
Saturday 07 Jan 2023 - 4:52pm
Thailand
A map showing the sighting location
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Lucas Corneliussen
Friday 06 Jan 2023 - 7:41am
Thailand
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