Montagu’s Harrier
Circus pygargus

A: Blouvleivalk
G: Wiesenweihe
N: ǀhai !khuwihīsabes
Sp: Mmankgodimohlaka yo moputswa
Ss: Mmankgodimohlaka e moputswa
Tw: Mmankgodimolapo yo mokotswana
Z: unohlohlweni

BIRD FAMILY
Harriers and Marsh Harriers

SIZE
40-47 cm (L)

HABITAT
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.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION
Uncommon summer visitor from 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 juvenile s (often called ‘ringtails’ owing to their conspicuous white rumps) are often extremely difficult to distinguish from similar Pallid Harrier.