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, Reunion Island and the Comoros
Taxonomy
Two subspecies are recognized:
- maillardi from Reunion Island
- 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 26 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Reunion_Harrier
