Montagu’s Harrier
Circus pygargus
Grasslands. Above grey; wings with central black bars; broad black primaries. Chest grey; belly and underwings white, streaked rufous.
Harriers, Marsh Harriers
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Uncommon summer visitor from c & e Europe and Russia. Male recognised by darker grey coloration than male of [Pallid Harrier], this extending over the head, throat and breast. Rest of underparts have brown streaks. In flight differs from differs from [Pallid Harrier] in entirely black wing-tips, the upper wings with additional black bars along the centre, and underwings with narrow black and rufous barring. Altogether less white than (Pallid Harrier). Female hardly distinguishable from female of [Pallid Harrier] except for the lack of white markings behind the ear coverts. White rump and well-barred tail preclude confusion with [African Marsh Harrier]. Females and similar juveniles (often called ‘ringtails’ owing to their conspicuous white rumps) are often extremely difficult to distinguish from similar [Pallid Harrier] . Occurs singly, flying low over grassland or savanna and floodplains in Botswana, frequently in same areas as [Pallid Harrier]. Nomadic. Feed on small mammals, lizards and insects like locusts. 200-450 g.
Quick Facts
Size
40-47 cm - M
Names
A: Blouvleivalk
Z: unohlohlweni
Ss: Mmankgodimohlaka E Moputswa
G: Wiesenweihe
Bird Family
Long-winged, long-tailed, long-legged hawks that inhabit grassland or marshes. They usually fly low with leisurely, buoyant flight, head bent downwards and legs dangling slightly, bouts of flapping alternating with glides and wings held in a shallow ‘V'-shape above their bodies. They settle on the ground or perch on posts, less often in trees. Silent birds.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Occurs singly, flying low over 'grassland' or 'savanna' and floodplains in Botswana, frequently in same areas as [Pallid Harrier].
