Eastern Marsh Harrier

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, Dec 2023, Jan 2024, Feb 2024, Oct 2024, Nov 2024, Dec 2024, Jan 2025, Feb 2025

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus
Estimated average number of individuals by week based on eBird data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024
Peak week Nov 05-Nov 11
Early date 03 Oct 2017
Late date 11 Apr 2000
Wintering birds of this species are hardly seen nowadays due to loss of their grassland habitat, so the raptor migration in Oct and Nov is your best bet for this species, as with most other scarce raptors.
Female Eastern Marsh Harrier at Tuas South. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Male Eastern Marsh Harrier at Tanah Merah. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Immature Eastern Marsh Harrier at Tuas South. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Male Eastern Marsh Harrier at Tanah Merah. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Female Eastern Marsh Harrier at Tuas South. Photo credit: Francis Yap

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

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Eastern Marsh Harrier. Retrieved on April 24, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/eastern-marsh-harrier.

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