Western Marsh-Harrier

Circus Aeruginosus

Order:

Accipitriformes

Family:

Accipitridae

Size:

44 to 52 centimeters (17 to 20 inches)

Weight:

300 to 600 grams (10.6 to 21.2 ounces)

Taxonomy:

Gmelin 1788

Short Description:

Western Marsh-Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) is a medium-sized bird of prey found in wetland habitats across Pakistan. With its distinctive white rump, long wings, and characteristic flight pattern low over reed beds and marshes, it's easily identifiable. These marsh-harriers primarily feed on small mammals, birds, amphibians, and insects, hunting by flying low over the wetlands and using their keen eyesight to spot prey. They are known to breed in reed beds and wet grasslands, constructing nests from twigs and vegetation. The Western Marsh-Harrier plays a vital role in the ecosystem by controlling populations of small mammals and birds, contributing to the balance of wetland ecosystems in Pakistan.

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast

Western Marsh-Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) is distributed across various wetland habitats in Pakistan. These marsh-harriers can be found in marshes, reed beds, wet grasslands, and other areas with suitable vegetation and prey availability. They are particularly common in wetland areas such as the Indus River Delta, the wetlands of Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan provinces, and along the coastal regions of Pakistan. During the winter months, some populations of Western Marsh-Harriers may migrate to Pakistan from their breeding grounds in Central Asia and Europe, further expanding their distribution across the country. Overall, Pakistan provides important habitats for Western Marsh-Harriers, supporting breeding, foraging, and wintering populations of these birds.

Western Marsh-Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) exhibits distinctive behavior suited to its wetland habitat and predatory lifestyle. These birds of prey are often seen flying low over marshes, reed beds, and wet grasslands, using their keen eyesight to hunt for prey such as small mammals, birds, amphibians, and insects. They employ a characteristic hunting technique of gliding low over the vegetation, occasionally hovering briefly before swooping down to capture prey with their sharp talons. Western Marsh-Harriers may also engage in territorial displays, particularly during the breeding season, where they perform aerial acrobatics and vocalizations to establish dominance and defend nesting territories. Breeding behavior involves constructing nests in dense vegetation near water bodies, where both males and females participate in incubating the eggs and caring for the young.