Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Circus spilonotus
Family: Kites, Old World Vultures, Eagles, and Hawks · Status: Uncommon migrant · Size: 48–56 cm · Conservation: Least Concern
Breeds in eastern Siberia, northeastern China, and northern Japan; winters south to the Indian subcontinent, southern China, the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, northern Borneo, and the Philippines.
Male generally white overall with a grey-black streaked head and upper breast, grey-black outer primaries, dark mantle, back, and lesser coverts. Female brown overall with streaked brown underparts, brown upperparts, streaked underwing coverts and pale barring on primaries. Immature is dark brown overall with white patches on face, white breast band and white streaked shoulders. Separated from Pied Harrier by more elongated head with gentler gradient of throat incline, broader and rounder wings, and more bulky body. Male separated from female Pied Harrier by cleaner underwing and grey/black hood (not brown). Female separated from female/immature Pied Harrier by fully streaked underparts. Immature separated from immature Pied Harrier by white on face and breast band.
Open country, reclaimed land, grasslands, and marshes; occasionally over woodland on passage.
Surveys terrain using low, buoyant flight typical of harriers, with short flaps interspersed by glides. Often perches on or near the ground where it may be hidden from view.