Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus Northern/Western/Eurasian Marsh Harrier

Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus
(aka Northern/Eurasian Marsh Harrier)

Pivot Fields, Dubai
November 2010

The Western Marsh-harrier is found all year round in south-east England Spain, France, around the Mediterranean and the Middle East but is migratory elsewhere, breeding in northern and eastern Europe and central Asia while wintering in sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian sub-continent and the Far East. In the UAE it is a very common migrant and winter visitor.

It is found in marshes, reed beds and farmland where it quarters back and forth looking for its prey which is mainly small mammals and birds though it also feeds on carrion.

These photos are of females and darker juveniles.

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