Circus spilonotus
The Eastern Marsh Harrier (*Circus spilonotus*) is a medium-sized raptor belonging to the family Accipitridae, known for its graceful, buoyant flight over wetlands. Males typically display a striking pale plumage with dark wingtips, a characteristic pale rump, and bright yellow eyes, while females are generally darker brown with a creamy cap and leading edge to the wings. With a wingspan often reaching 110-140 cm and a body length of 48-58 cm, it is a formidable predator. This species is clos...
Eastern Marsh Harriers primarily inhabit extensive wetlands, including freshwater and brackish marshes, reedbeds, rice paddies, and open grasslands with scattered water bodies, typically at low elevations.
The Eastern Marsh Harrier is an opportunistic predator, primarily feeding on small mammals, birds (especially waterfowl nestlings), eggs, amphibians, reptiles, and large insects. They hunt by flying low over dense vegetation and dropping onto unsuspecting prey.
These diurnal raptors are renowned for their distinctive hunting flight, wherein they quarter low over marshy vegetation with wings held in a shallow 'V' shape, relying on keen sight and hearing to detect prey. They often hunt during dawn and dusk, before communal roosting in dense reedbeds or th...
The breeding range of the Eastern Marsh Harrier spans across vast areas of temperate East Asia, extending from southern Siberia and Mongolia, through northeastern China, the Korean Peninsula, and northern Japan. During the non-breeding season, these harriers undertake significant migrations south...
Least Concern
- The male Eastern Marsh Harrier performs an elaborate aerial courtship ritual known as 'sky-dancing,' involving impressive loops and dives to attract a mate. - They often practice polygyny, with a single male mating with up to three females, though this varies geographically. - Their specialized...