Circus aeruginosus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Circus aeruginosus, commonly called the Western Marsh Harrier or Eurasian Marsh Harrier, is a large bird of prey that resides in temperate and subtropical western Eurasia and adjacent Africa, but winters in the Indian subcontinent.

a) Circus aeruginosus aeruginosus (Linnaeus, 1758) - Europe and Asia Minor E into C Asia, E to upper R Yenisey and Mongolia; winters in W & S Europe, Africa S of Sahara, and in Indian Subcontinent and Sri Lanka - This species is widely migratory throughout its range. b) Circus aeruginosus harterti Zedlitz, 1914 - NW Africa, from Morocco to Tunisia - resident all year in north-west Africa.

Not known to breed or nest in India.

Full migrant. A widespread winter visitor throughout the Indian subcontinent.

Maximum longevity: 20.1 years (wild)

Length: 54-59cm. Wingspan: 115 to 130 cm. Weight: 400 to 650 g in males and 500 to 800 g in females.

The largest among Harriers, the Western Marsh Harrier has a characteristic owl-like ruff of facial feathers covering their large ear openings, broad rounded wings held in a V in flight, long narrow tails and long legs. Adult males are dark brown in colour with pale rufous head, neck and breast, and silvery-grey wings tipped with black and a silvery grey tail. Adult females and juveniles are dark chocolate brown in colour with creamy crowns and throats

Unlike other Hariers, it spends a considerable amount of time sitting on the ground or soaring in the sky. Flies leisurely for a few metres above marsh vegetation, occassionally dropping to the ground to seize prey. Calls include a lapwing-like mewing and a 'chattering' alarm call. A territorial bird in breeding season. Even in winters, it is less social than other Harriers, which often gather in large flocks. However, flocks of around 100 Western Marsh Harriers have been observed to roost together in Keoladeo National Park of Rajasthan (India) in November and December each year. They assemble in grasslands dominated by Desmostachya bipinnata and Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides). When disturbed by humans, they may use floating carpets of Common Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) instead.

Carnivores. Feeds on insects, fish, frogs, small birds, reptiles, mammals and carrion.

A. Global: Habitat systems: Terrestrial; Freshwater; Marine. Forest Dependency: Does not normally occur in forest. Altitude: 0 - 3000 m. General Habitats: Wetlands (inland) - Seasonal/Intermittent/Irregular Rivers/Streams/Creeks, Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands, Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha), Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha), Permanent Inland Deltas; Marine Intertidal - Salt Marshes (Emergent Grasses); Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land. Breeding Habitats: Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) - Arable land; Inland Wetlands - Bogs, marshes, swamps, fens, peatlands, Freshwater lakes (>8 ha) - permanent, Freshwater marshes/pools (

Freguents mostly in beels, marshes, paddy fields. etc.

Not endemic.

500,000 - 2,000,000 mature individuals (2009)

Unset

Red List Category & Criteria: Least Concern (ver 3.1) Year Published: 2009 Assessor/s: BirdLife International Reviewer/s: Bird, J., Butchart, S.

IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern

Past threats include drainage altred habitats, persecution by game keepers, and egg shell thinning by use of organochlorine pesticides like DDT. Current threats include shrinking marsh habitats, predation by foxes, poisoning and egg collecting, as well as disturbance of nesting sites.

CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) India Listed Species:Yes. Appendix:II. CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Global Listed Species:Yes. Appendix:II. AEWA (Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds) Listed Species:Yes. Appendix:II. IWPA (Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972) Listed Species:No.