BirdUp · Species
Swamp Harrier
Circus approximansPeale, 1848
Also known asKāhu
Least ConcernNative
- Order
- ACCIPITRIFORMES
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Genus
- Circus
- Conservation
- Least Concern
- Commonness
- Very common
- Best seen
- Year-round
01 · Identification
How to tell it apart
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
02 · Where
Where to find it
- Breeding range
- Australia (except south-central), North, South, Stewart and Chatham is. (east of South I.; New Zealand), Vanuatu, New Caledonia including Loyalty Is., to Fiji and Tonga (south-west and south-central Polynesia)
- Non-breeding range
- To Trans-Fly (south-central New Guinea) and Kermadec Is. (north-east of North I., New Zealand)
03 · When
When to look
Months this species is recorded across its Australian range.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
05 · Behaviour
Habits and haunts
06 · Gallery
Plumage up close
4 photos
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