Alternative names: Madagascar Marsh Harrier; Malagasy Marsh Harrier
- Circus maillardi
Identification
Black head and back with white streaks and a white belly. The tail is grey, the rump is white and the wings are grey and black with a white leading edge. Females are dark brown with a white rump and barred tail.
Distribution
Madagascar, Réunion and the Comoros
Taxonomy
Two subspecies are recognized:
- maillardi from Reunion
- macrosceles from Madagascar and the Comoros - Malagasy Harrier
Both subspecies are sometimes accepted as full species.
Reunion Harrier has in the past been treated as subspecies of Western Marsh-Harrier.
Habitat
Marshland and grassland
Behaviour
Diet
Diet includes rats, mice and insects.
Breeding
2-3 white eggs are laid.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Reunion Harrier. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 6 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Reunion_Harrier