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Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus   [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names Trends & Distribution Breeding & Survival Biometrics Books & Links

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Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae
BTO Codes: MR, MARHA EURING No: 2600
Number in Britain: 404 females (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK: AMBER
European: Not a species of concern
Global: Least Concern ( Details )
Links to: Images   Videos   Sound  
Status in UK: (A)  Migrant/Resident Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies: aeruginosus recorded in Britain (of 2 subsp. in the world)
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Length: 52 cm Wingspan: 122 cm Weight: M: 540 g   F: 670 g    
Scientific name from: Gr.: kirkos=a type of hawk and L.: aerugo=copper rust + -osus=full of
World Distribution: BREEDS w Europe to c Asia & n Africa, WINTERS: south to c Africa & s Asia
Habitat: Marsh and reedbeds
Diet: Animals from ground, especially in marshy areas, preference for easily caught prey
TitBit: The Marsh Harrier almost died out as a British breeding species, but has recovered since the 1960s and changed its behaviour along the way, nesting in farmland and many individuals staying in Britain for the winter.  

Population and Distribution

Population Trend: No population trend available
Distribution: No distribution maps available
British Population Size:
    Summer: 404 females in 2005-09
    First Record: 1544
    Latest Survey: Holling, M. & RBBP (2011) British Birds 104:476-537
    Conservation Status: AMBER because Small Non-breeding Population, Localised Breeding Population,
   Previous Assessments: 2002-2007 AMBER     1996-2001 RED  
   Races of Concern: aeruginosus AMBER (Rare or Localised)
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
    No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
    Summer: 53 to 80 thousand pairs   (Trend in Numbers)
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of: WCA(I,IV), Bern(III), Bonn(II), CITES(II)
Survey Results:

Breeding and Survival
Egg Size: 50 x 39 mm Egg Weight: 40.0 g (of which 9 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records: 6
Clutch Size: 4 - 5 eggs
Incubation: 31- 38 days   by the: Female
Fledging: 35 - 40days as: Altricial, downy
First Clutches Laid: Unavailable
Number of Broods: 1
Number Ringed: 109 (Annual Totals)
Adult Survival: 0.740       
Juvenile Survival: 0.151 (to age 3 )  
Age at First Breeding: 3 years Typical Lifespan: 6 years
Maximum Recorded Age: 3 years 9 months 14 days (set in 1995)
Summary of Ringing Recoveries       

Biometrics
Ring Size: F
Wing Length Adult: Insufficient Data
Juvenile: Insufficient Data
Male: Insufficient Data
Female: Insufficient Data
Weight Adult: Insufficient Data
Juvenile: Insufficient Data
Male: Insufficient Data
Female: Insufficient Data

Other Names
Western/Eurasian Marsh Harrier
Gaelic: Clamhan-lòin Welsh: Bod y Gwerni
Danish: Rørhøg Dutch: Bruine kiekendief
Finnish: Ruskosuohaukka French: Busard des roseaux
German: Rohrweihe Hungarian: Barna rétihéja
Icelandic: Brúnheiðir Irish: Cromán Móna
Italian: Falco di palude Norwegian: Sivhauk
Polish: Blotniak stawowy Portuguese: Tartaranhão-ruivo-dos-paúis
Spanish: Aguilucho lagunero Swedish: Brun kärrhök
Local Names:Duck Hawk

For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
   Clarke, R. 1995 The marsh harrier Hamlyn, London [598.521 CLA]
   Simmons, R. 2000 Harriers of the world : their behaviour and ecology Oxford University Press, Oxford [598.521 SIM]
   Clarke, R. 1990 Harriers of the British Isles Shire Publications, Princes Risborough [Jour: S]
See Also:
Find scientific papers on Google Scholar or Scirus by clicking the icon
Wikipedia entry
BirdLife species page
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides
State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead