Afghanistan (NB) (P), Albania (NB), Algeria (NB) (P), Angola (NB), Armenia (NB) (P), Austria (P), Azerbaijan (B) (NB) (P), Bahrain (NB) (P), Bangladesh (NB), Belarus (B), Benin (NB), Botswana (NB), Bulgaria (P), Burkina Faso, Burundi (NB), Cameroon (NB), Central African Republic (NB), Chad (NB), China (mainland) (B) (NB), Congo [The Democratic Republic of the] (NB), Côte dIvoire (NB), Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska) (P), Cyprus (NB) (P), Czech Republic, Denmark (P), Djibouti (NB) (P), Egypt (NB) (P), Eritrea (NB) (P), Ethiopia (NB) (P), Finland, France (NB), Gambia (NB), Georgia (NB) (P), Ghana (NB), Greece (NB) (P), Guinea-bissau, India (NB), Iran [Islamic Republic of] (NB) (P), Iraq (NB) (P), Israel (NB) (P), Italy (NB) (P), Jordan (NB) (P), Kazakhstan (B), Kenya (NB) (P), Kuwait (P), Kyrgyzstan (B) (P), Latvia (E) (B), Lebanon (NB) (P), Liberia (NB), Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (NB) (P), Macedonia [The Former Yugoslav Republic of], Malawi (NB), Maldives, Mali (NB), Malta, Mauritania (NB), Moldova [Republic of] (B), Mongolia (B) (P), Montenegro, Mozambique (NB), Myanmar (NB), Namibia (NB), Nepal (NB), Niger (NB), Nigeria (NB), Oman (NB) (P), Pakistan (NB), Palestinian Authority Territories (P), Qatar (P), Romania (B) (NB) (P), Russia (Asian) (B), Russia (Central Asian) (B), Russia (European) (B) (P), Rwanda (NB), Saudi Arabia (NB) (P), Senegal (NB), Serbia, Sierra Leone (NB), Slovakia (Slovak Republic), Slovenia, Somalia (NB), South Africa (NB), Sri Lanka (NB), Sudan (NB), Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic (NB) (P), Tanzania [United Republic of] (NB) (P), Togo (NB), Tunisia (NB) (P), Turkey (B) (NB) (P), Uganda (NB) (P), Ukraine (B) (NB) (P), United Arab Emirates (NB) (P), Vietnam (E), Yemen (NB) (P), Zambia (NB), Zimbabwe (NB).
Vagrant to Belgium, Estonia, Germany, Gibraltar, Guinea (NB), Hungary, Iceland, Japan, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands Antilles, Norway, Spain (NB), Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
Unknown to Bhutan (NB).
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 18,000 - 30,000 (2010) and decreasing.
Status NT
Habitat destruction and degradation of steppe grasslands through conversion to agriculture, burning and over grazing of wet pastures, pesticides are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Food
Small mammals, small birds, insects and reptiles.
Voice
Whistling calls uttered near nest. Otherwise silent.
Subspecies
Circus maillardi (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Reunion Marsh-harrier (Circus maillardi) and Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) following Simmons (2000).
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Adult female can be distinguished from Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus) by lack of solid dark trailing edge to inner primaries when seen in flight from below combined with duller secondaries, lack of dark bar along mid-secondaries on upperwing, and a series of subtle characters. Juvenile differs from Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus) in having almost white ruff-collar rather than dark neck shawl, same primary pattern as for female and other subtle characters. Female and juvenile also resemble Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) which is larger, with proportionately shorter and broader wings.
References
See References.
The Reader's Digest Book of British Birds 1980, 3rd Edition, Drive Publications Ltd ISBN 0 340 25308 8
Birds in Colour Campbell, B., 1960, Penguin Books Ltd
The Pocket Guide to Nest and Eggs Fitter, R.S.R., 1954, Collins
RSPB Handbook of British Birds Holden, P., Cleeves, T., 2002, A & C Black ISBN 0 7136 5713 8
Birds of Britain and Europe Sterry, P., et al., 2001, AA Publishing ISBN 0 7495 3068 5
The Popular Handbook of British Birds Hollom, P.A.D., 1973, H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd ISBN 0 85493 002 7
BirdLife International Species Factsheet