Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Circus melanoleucos
Family: Kites, Old World Vultures, Eagles, and Hawks · Status: Rare migrant · Size: 43–46 cm · Conservation: Least Concern
Breeds from southeastern Siberia and northeastern China to Korea; winters to the Indian subcontinent, southern China, the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Indochina, and Sumatra.
Male is distinctive; overall white with all-black head, upper breast, median coverts and outer primaries, a large white patch on lesser coverts, and black outer primaries contrasting with whitish wings in flight. Female has a brown head with streaking to the breast, white thighs and vent, and extensive barring on primaries and secondaries, white 'shoulders' contrasting with brown lesser coverts, dark-tipped primaries, white uppertail coverts and dark bands on the uppertail. Immature resembles female but has brown head, underparts, upperwing and underwing coverts. Separated from Eastern Marsh Harrier by more rounded head with steeper gradient of throat incline, slightly narrower and more pointed wings, and more slender body. Female and immature separated from female Eastern Marsh Harrier by lack of streaking across whole underside, from immature Eastern Marsh Harrier by lack of whitish face and white band across the breast. Female separated from male Eastern Marsh Harrier by brown hood (not grey/black) and more extensive markings on the underwing.
Open country, reclaimed land, grasslands, and marshes.
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.