Eastern Marsh Harrier

Scientific Name: Circus spilonotus

Malay Name: Helang-Sawah Biasa

Chinese Name: 白腹鹞

Range: Found from eastern Siberia, north-eastern China to northern Japan and winters to the Indian subcontinent, southern China, southern Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 48-56 cm

Identification: Male resembles Pied Harrier but has black streaks on neck and breast and lacks large white patches on upperwing-coverts. Female resembles Pied Harrier but has dull rufous belly and thigh. Juvenile also resembles Pied Harrier but has darker brown body and pale head.

Similar looking species: Pied Harrier

Habitat: Open country, reclaimed land, grasslands and marshes.

Behaviour/Ecology: Usually flies low over open country with short flaps interspersed by long glides.

Local Status: Uncommon migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2021)

Location: Recent sightings were at Changi reclaimed land, Tanah Merah grassland, Kranji Marsh and Henderson Waves Bridge.

Featured reports: Oct 2022, Nov 2022

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Eastern Marsh Harrier at Tuas South. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Subadult male Eastern Marsh Harrier at Changi Reclaimed Land. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Juvenile Eastern Marsh Harrier at Henderson Waves. Photo credit: Adrian Silas Tay
Eastern Marsh Harrier at Tuas South. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Male Eastern Marsh Harrier at Tanah Merah. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Male Eastern Marsh Harrier at Tanah Merah. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Female Eastern Marsh Harrier at Changi. Photo Credit: Tan Gim Cheong
External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Eastern Marsh-Harrier)

References:

BirdLife International. (2021). Circus spilonotus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T61709141A203625947.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Singapore Birds Project. (n.d.). Eastern Marsh Harrier. Retrieved on June 1, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/eastern-marsh-harrier.