BirdUp · Species
Swamp Harrier
Circus approximansPeale, 1848
Updated
Also known asKāhu
- Order
- ACCIPITRIFORMES
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Genus
- Circus
At a glance
The Swamp Harrier is a large bird, about 50–60 cm long, listed as Least Concern and native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.
- Size
- 50–60 cm
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
- Origin
- Native
- Best seen
- Year-round
- Commonness
- Very common
01 · Identification
How to tell it apart
What does a Swamp Harrier look like?
The Swamp Harrier is a large bird, about 50–60 cm long and weighing 520–1080 g.
The swamp harrier, also known as the Australasian marsh harrier or Australasian harrier, is a large, slim bird of prey widely distributed across Australasia. In New Zealand, it is also known by the Māori name kāhu. It arrived in New Zealand within the last 700 years, replacing the larger species, the extinct New Zealand endemic Eyles's harrier.
Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
03 · When
When to look
When can you see a Swamp Harrier?
The Swamp Harrier is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
05 · Behaviour
Habits and haunts
What does a Swamp Harrier eat?
The Swamp Harrier feeds on terrestrial vertebrates and carrion, usually foraging in flocks or alone.
06 · Gallery
Plumage up close
4 photos
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