Marsh Harrier - Circus Aeruginosus


The marsh harriers are birds of prey of the harrier subfamily. They are medium-sized raptors and the largest and broadest-winged harriers. Most of them are associated with marshland and dense reedbeds. They are found almost worldwide, excluding only the Americas.

It hunts small mammals, frogs, fish, insects and birds, surprising them as it drifts low over fields and reedbeds. Its long legs allow it to pluck frogs and fish from the water mid-swoop. The western marsh harrier is a typical harrier, with long wings held in a shallow V in its low flight. It also resembles other harriers in having distinct male and female plumages, but its plumages are quite different from those of its relatives. The male has wings with grey and brown sections and black wingtips. Its head, tail and underparts are greyish, except for the chestnut belly. The female is mainly brown with a cream crown and cream leading edge to her wings. It is 19-22 inches long and weighs 1-2 lbs.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Marsh harrier was hunted to extinction in the United Kingdom. After being reintroduced from other regions, its population steadily increased until DDT threatened it, along with other raptors, in the 50's and 60's. Since, the population has slowly and steadily increased.

Its future in the UK is now more secure than at any time during the last century, but historical declines and subsequent recovery means it is an Amber List species. Marsh harriers are a Schedule 1 listed bird on The Wildlife and Countryside Act.


UK Population:

Approx 400 Pairs

Tags:   Marsh Harrier Harrier Harriers Avian Animal Animals Birds. Bird Bird Photography Birds of Prey Raptors Countryside Reservoirs Reeds Reed Beds Estuaries Estuary Lakes Marshland Marshes Meadows Wildlife. Wildbirds Wetlands Wildlife Photography Waterways Jeff Lack Photography Nature Nature Photography Nikon Norfolk Ornithology

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Marsh Harrier - Circus Aeruginosus


The marsh harriers are birds of prey of the harrier subfamily. They are medium-sized raptors and the largest and broadest-winged harriers. Most of them are associated with marshland and dense reedbeds. They are found almost worldwide, excluding only the Americas.

It hunts small mammals, frogs, fish, insects and birds, surprising them as it drifts low over fields and reedbeds. Its long legs allow it to pluck frogs and fish from the water mid-swoop. The western marsh harrier is a typical harrier, with long wings held in a shallow V in its low flight. It also resembles other harriers in having distinct male and female plumages, but its plumages are quite different from those of its relatives. The male has wings with grey and brown sections and black wingtips. Its head, tail and underparts are greyish, except for the chestnut belly. The female is mainly brown with a cream crown and cream leading edge to her wings. It is 19-22 inches long and weighs 1-2 lbs.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Marsh harrier was hunted to extinction in the United Kingdom. After being reintroduced from other regions, its population steadily increased until DDT threatened it, along with other raptors, in the 50's and 60's. Since, the population has slowly and steadily increased.

Its future in the UK is now more secure than at any time during the last century, but historical declines and subsequent recovery means it is an Amber List species. Marsh harriers are a Schedule 1 listed bird on The Wildlife and Countryside Act.


UK Population:

Approx 400 Pairs

Tags:   Marsh Harrier Harrier Harriers Marshland Marshes Avian Animal Animals Birds. Bird Bird Photography Wildlife. Wildbirds Wetlands Waterways Wildlife Photography Jeff Lack Photography Countryside Reservoirs Reeds Reed Beds Lakes Nature Nature Photography Nikon Ornithology

© All Rights Reserved

Marsh Harrier - Circus Aeruginosus


The marsh harriers are birds of prey of the harrier subfamily. They are medium-sized raptors and the largest and broadest-winged harriers. Most of them are associated with marshland and dense reedbeds. They are found almost worldwide, excluding only the Americas.

It hunts small mammals, frogs, fish, insects and birds, surprising them as it drifts low over fields and reedbeds. Its long legs allow it to pluck frogs and fish from the water mid-swoop. The western marsh harrier is a typical harrier, with long wings held in a shallow V in its low flight. It also resembles other harriers in having distinct male and female plumages, but its plumages are quite different from those of its relatives. The male has wings with grey and brown sections and black wingtips. Its head, tail and underparts are greyish, except for the chestnut belly. The female is mainly brown with a cream crown and cream leading edge to her wings. It is 19-22 inches long and weighs 1-2 lbs.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Marsh harrier was hunted to extinction in the United Kingdom. After being reintroduced from other regions, its population steadily increased until DDT threatened it, along with other raptors, in the 50's and 60's. Since, the population has slowly and steadily increased.

Its future in the UK is now more secure than at any time during the last century, but historical declines and subsequent recovery means it is an Amber List species. Marsh harriers are a Schedule 1 listed bird on The Wildlife and Countryside Act.


UK Population:

Approx 400 Pairs

Tags:   Marsh Harrier Harrier Harriers Avian Animal Animals Birds. Bird Bird Photography Raptors Birds of Prey Hawk Hawks Reeds Reed Beds Wildlife. Wildbirds Wetlands Wildlife Photography Jeff Lack Photography Reserves Marshland Marshes Nature Nature Photography Nikon Ornithology

© All Rights Reserved

Marsh Harrier - Circus Aeruginosus


The marsh harriers are birds of prey of the harrier subfamily. They are medium-sized raptors and the largest and broadest-winged harriers. Most of them are associated with marshland and dense reedbeds. They are found almost worldwide, excluding only the Americas.

It hunts small mammals, frogs, fish, insects and birds, surprising them as it drifts low over fields and reedbeds. Its long legs allow it to pluck frogs and fish from the water mid-swoop. The western marsh harrier is a typical harrier, with long wings held in a shallow V in its low flight. It also resembles other harriers in having distinct male and female plumages, but its plumages are quite different from those of its relatives. The male has wings with grey and brown sections and black wingtips. Its head, tail and underparts are greyish, except for the chestnut belly. The female is mainly brown with a cream crown and cream leading edge to her wings. It is 19-22 inches long and weighs 1-2 lbs.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Marsh harrier was hunted to extinction in the United Kingdom. After being reintroduced from other regions, its population steadily increased until DDT threatened it, along with other raptors, in the 50's and 60's. Since, the population has slowly and steadily increased.

Its future in the UK is now more secure than at any time during the last century, but historical declines and subsequent recovery means it is an Amber List species. Marsh harriers are a Schedule 1 listed bird on The Wildlife and Countryside Act.


UK Population:

Approx 400 Pairs

Tags:   Marsh Harrier Harrier Harriers Marshland Marshes Meadows Avian Animal Animals Birds. Bird Bird Photography Birds of Prey Raptors Reservoirs Reeds Reed Beds Wildlife. Wildbirds Wetlands Wildlife Photography Water-Birds Waterways Heathlands Heathland Nature Nature Photography Nikon Norfolk Ornithology Jeff Lack Photography s5 coth5

© All Rights Reserved

Marsh Harrier - Circus Aeruginosus


The marsh harriers are birds of prey of the harrier subfamily. They are medium-sized raptors and the largest and broadest-winged harriers. Most of them are associated with marshland and dense reedbeds. They are found almost worldwide, excluding only the Americas.

It hunts small mammals, frogs, fish, insects and birds, surprising them as it drifts low over fields and reedbeds. Its long legs allow it to pluck frogs and fish from the water mid-swoop. The western marsh harrier is a typical harrier, with long wings held in a shallow V in its low flight. It also resembles other harriers in having distinct male and female plumages, but its plumages are quite different from those of its relatives. The male has wings with grey and brown sections and black wingtips. Its head, tail and underparts are greyish, except for the chestnut belly. The female is mainly brown with a cream crown and cream leading edge to her wings. It is 19-22 inches long and weighs 1-2 lbs.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Marsh harrier was hunted to extinction in the United Kingdom. After being reintroduced from other regions, its population steadily increased until DDT threatened it, along with other raptors, in the 50's and 60's. Since, the population has slowly and steadily increased.

Its future in the UK is now more secure than at any time during the last century, but historical declines and subsequent recovery means it is an Amber List species. Marsh harriers are a Schedule 1 listed bird on The Wildlife and Countryside Act.


UK Population:

Approx 400 Pairs

Tags:   Marsh Harrier Harrier Harriers Birds of Prey Raptors Hawks Avian Animal Animals Birds. Bird Bird Photography Wildlife. Wildbirds Wetlands Waterways Wildlife Photography Jeff Lack Photography Lakes Reservoirs Reeds Reed Beds Rivers Marshland Marshes Estuaries Estuary Nature Nature Photography Nikon Reserves Ornithology

© All Rights Reserved