Swamp Harrier

Circus approximans Peale, 1849

746 gWeight

The swamp harrier (Circus approximans), also known as the Australasian marsh harrier or Australasian harrier, is a large, slim bird of prey widely distributed across Australasia.

Busiest months: October–January · Most records: Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: October–January · Most records: Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu

Swamp Harrier has been recorded at 351 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 10 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

Western Treatment PlantAustralia8,704 records
Herdsman LakeAustralia2,342 records
Western Treatment Plant – T Section PondsAustralia1,853 records

More places

Western Treatment Plant – Western LagoonsAustralia1,179 records
Braeside ParkAustralia1,008 records
Townsville Town Common Conservation ParkAustralia932 records
Dandenong Valley WetlandAustralia870 records
Tamar Island WetlandsAustralia738 records
Miranda – main hide/LimeworksNew Zealand680 records
Braeside Park WetlandsAustralia645 records

Countries and regions with the most records

Australia New Zealand Vanuatu French Polynesia Fiji New Caledonia Norfolk Island Papua New Guinea

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The swamp harrier (Circus approximans), 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.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Swamp Harrier?

The Swamp Harrier weighs around 746 g.

Where does the Swamp Harrier live?

Its breeding range: Australasia: Australia (except south-central), North, South, Stewart and Chatham islands (east of South Island; New Zealand), Vanuatu, New Caledonia including Loyalty Islands, to Fiji and Tonga (southwestern, south-central Polynesia). It is most often recorded in Australia, New Zealand and Vanuatu.

When is the best time to see the Swamp Harrier?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in January, October, November and December (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Swamp Harrier endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Swamp Harrier as Least Concern.

What does the Swamp Harrier eat?

Main food: Vertebrate prey.

What family is the Swamp Harrier in?

It belongs to the family Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae), order Accipitriformes.

At a glance

Weight: 746 g
Habitat: Wetland
Diet: Vertebrate prey
Lifestyle: Feeds in the air
Migration: Partial migrant
Conservation: Least Concern

More measurements

Wing: 407 mm
Tail: 233 mm
Bill: 40 mm
Tarsus: 89 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Australasia: Australia (except south-central), North, South, Stewart and Chatham islands (east of South Island; New Zealand), Vanuatu, New Caledonia including Loyalty Islands, to Fiji and Tonga (southwestern, south-central Polynesia)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2