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'''Alternative name: Allied Harrier''' | '''Alternative name: Allied Harrier''' | ||
| + | [[Image:Spotted_Harrier.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Tom+Tarrant|Tom Tarrant}}<br />[[Queensland]], [[Australia]], July 2003]] | ||
;[[:Category:Circus|Circus]] assimilis | ;[[:Category:Circus|Circus]] assimilis | ||
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==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
White-spotted chestnut breast, blue-grey upper parts, owl-like chestnut coloured facial disc with a narrow light grey ruff, yellow eyes, long slender yellow legs and a long tail, with a wedge-shaped tip. Its long, broad wings have dark, well rounded, 'fingered' tips. The female is larger than the male.<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup> | White-spotted chestnut breast, blue-grey upper parts, owl-like chestnut coloured facial disc with a narrow light grey ruff, yellow eyes, long slender yellow legs and a long tail, with a wedge-shaped tip. Its long, broad wings have dark, well rounded, 'fingered' tips. The female is larger than the male.<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup> | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | [[Indonesia]] and [[Australia]]. Occurs over much of Australia but scarce or absent from coastal areas of the south-west, south and north-east. Vagrant to [[Tasmania]]. Also occurs in [[Sulawesi]], [[Timor]] and the [[Lesser Sunda Islands]]. Nomadic or migratory. | + | [[Image:Image374.jpeg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Mike+Bouette|Mike Bouette}}<br />Cue, [[Western Australia]], July 2013]] |
| + | [[Indonesia]] and [[Australia]]. Occurs over much of Australia but scarce or absent from coastal areas of the south-west, south and north-east. Vagrant to [[Tasmania]]. | ||
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| + | Also occurs in [[Sulawesi]], [[Timor]] and the [[Lesser Sunda Islands]]. Nomadic or migratory. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>. | This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>. | ||
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Its nest is built in trees in woodland and is a large flimsy platform of twigs and sticks, lined with green leaves. The female incubates the eggs, broods and guards the young. The male hunts and brings food to the female.<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup> | Its nest is built in trees in woodland and is a large flimsy platform of twigs and sticks, lined with green leaves. The female incubates the eggs, broods and guards the young. The male hunts and brings food to the female.<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug16}}#Birds in Backyards |
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
Revision as of 20:57, 14 November 2016
Alternative name: Allied Harrier
- Circus assimilis
Identification
White-spotted chestnut breast, blue-grey upper parts, owl-like chestnut coloured facial disc with a narrow light grey ruff, yellow eyes, long slender yellow legs and a long tail, with a wedge-shaped tip. Its long, broad wings have dark, well rounded, 'fingered' tips. The female is larger than the male.[2]
Distribution
Indonesia and Australia. Occurs over much of Australia but scarce or absent from coastal areas of the south-west, south and north-east. Vagrant to Tasmania.
Also occurs in Sulawesi, Timor and the Lesser Sunda Islands. Nomadic or migratory.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Plains and scrubland, sometimes swamps, open wooded country, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas.
Behaviour
It hunts by day, and the diet includes ground birds such as quail and pipits, also mice, rats, rabbits and lizards. [2]
Its nest is built in trees in woodland and is a large flimsy platform of twigs and sticks, lined with green leaves. The female incubates the eggs, broods and guards the young. The male hunts and brings food to the female.[2]
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Birds in Backyards
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Spotted Harrier. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 23 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Spotted_Harrier
