- Madagascar Marsh Harrier
Taxobox
name = Madagascar Marsh Harrier
status = VU
status_system = IUCN3.1
image_caption =
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Falconiformes
familia =Accipitridae
genus = "Circus"
species = "C. macrosceles"
binomial = "Circus macrosceles"
binomial_authority = Newton, 1863
synonyms = "Circus maillardi macrosceles"The Madagascar Marsh Harrier ("Circus macrosceles") is a
bird of prey belonging to themarsh harrier group of harriers. It inhabitsMadagascar and theComoro Islands in theIndian Ocean . It was formerly regarded as asubspecies of theRéunion Harrier ("C. maillardi") but is increasingly treated as a separate species. It is also known as the Madagascar Harrier, Malagasy Harrier or Malagasy Marsh Harrier.Description
It is about 59 cm long; the female is up to 13% larger than the male. The male has a blackish back and a greyer head with dark streaks. The underparts and rump are whitish and the tail is grey with dark bars. The forewings and wingtips are blackish while the secondaries are grey with dark bars. Females are browner than the males.
The Réunion Harrier is smaller and darker with shorter legs and shorter, more rounded wings. Males have a blacker head and plainer secondaries and tail.
Distribution and habitat
In Madagascar it is found in
marshland andgrassland across the island except for the south. It is generally scarce with the largest numbers in the north-west. It occurs from sea-level up to 1800 m. On the Comoros it is more often found in drier habitats and in forested areas. It has occurred on all four main islands but there are no recent records fromMayotte .Its population size is uncertain but is estimated to be between 250 and 999 individuals. It is thought to be declining as a result of hunting and habitat destruction and is classed as vulnerable by
BirdLife International .Behaviour
It feeds mainly on birds such as the
Madagascar Partridge and also takesreptile s,amphibian s,rodent s andinsect s. It typically feeds by flying low over the ground and dropping down rapidly when it spots its prey. It will also hunt over the canopy of forests.It breeds in marshland, building a nest of grass and stems on the ground or low in a bush. The white eggs are incubated for about 32-34 days and the young birds
fledge after 42-45 days.References
*Clarke, Roger (1995) "The Marsh Harrier", Hamlyn, London.
*Ferguson-Lees, James & Christie, David A. (2001) "Raptors of the World", Christopher Helm, London.
*Global Raptor Information Network (2008) [http://www.globalraptors.org/grin/SpeciesResults.asp?specID=8207 Species account: Madagascar Marsh Harrier "Circus macrosceles"] . Downloaded from http://www.globalraptors.org on4 August 2008 .
*Sinclair, Ian & Langrand, Olivier (1998) "Birds of the Indian Ocean Islands", Struik, Cape Town.External links
*BirdLife International (2008) [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sites/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3403&m=0 Species factsheet: "Circus macrosceles"] . Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on
4 August 2008 .
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