Breeds in Assam; winter visitor mainly to NE subcontinent. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. Usually looks broader in wing and body than Pallid and Montagu ' s Harriers, and slightly heavier in flight. although male can appear dainty and buoyant. Most likely to be confused with Eastern Marsh arrier (above); see that species for details. Adult male is distinctive. with black head and breast contrasting with white underbody, black upperbody, median coverts and primaries contrasting with grey of rest of wing. and white leading edge to wing. Yellow cere and iris are especially striking a gainst black of head. Adult female superficially resembles female Pallid and Montagu's, but has paler underw ing with narrow dark barring on flight feathers and sparse streaking on underw ing-coverts. greyer primaries and secondaries with more pronounced dark band ing. and greyer tail with narrower dark barring. Juvenile has dark brown head and upperparts, with white supercilium and patch below eye (but lacking pronounced white collar of juvenile Pallid), white uppertail - coverts, rufous-brown underbody and underwing-coverts. and pale underside to primaries (with dark fingers) contrasting with dark underside of secondaries. Flight and hunting behaviour like Eurasian Marsh, but more graceful on the wing. Open grassland and cultivation in plains and hills.
Average size
43.8 cm
Habitat
Flight and hunting behaviour like Eurasian Marsh, but more graceful on the wing. Open grassland and cultivation in plains and hills.
Behaviour
Breeds in Assam, winter visitor mainly to NE subcontinent., arrier (above), see that species for details. Adult male is distinctive. with black head and breast contrasting with white underbody, black upperbody, median coverts and primaries contrasting with grey of rest of wing. and white leading edge to wing. Yellow cere and iris are especially striking a gainst black of head. Adult female superficially resembles female Pallid and Montagu's, but has paler underw ing with narrow dark barring on flight feathers and sparse streaking on underw ing-coverts. greyer primaries and secondaries with more pronounced dark band ing. and greyer tail with narrower dark barring. Juvenile has dark brown head and upperparts, with white supercilium and patch below eye (but lacking pronounced white collar of juvenile Pallid), white uppertail - coverts, rufous-brown underbody and underwing-coverts. and pale underside to primaries (with dark fingers) contrasting with dark underside of secondaries.
About this bird
Breeds in Assam; winter visitor mainly to NE subcontinent. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. Usually looks broader in wing and body than Pallid and Montagu ' s Harriers, and slightly heavier in flight. although male can appear dainty and buoyant. Most likely to be confused with Eastern Marsh arrier (above); see that species for details. Adult male is distinctive. with black head and breast contrasting with white underbody, black upperbody, median coverts and primaries contrasting with grey of rest of wing. and white leading edge to wing. Yellow cere and iris are especially striking a gainst black of head. Adult female superficially resembles female Pallid and Montagu's, but has paler underw ing with narrow dark barring on flight feathers and sparse streaking on underw ing-coverts. greyer primaries and secondaries with more pronounced dark band ing. and greyer tail with narrower dark barring. Juvenile has dark brown head and upperparts, with white supercilium and patch below eye (but lacking pronounced white collar of juvenile Pallid), white uppertail - coverts, rufous-brown underbody and underwing-coverts. and pale underside to primaries (with dark fingers) contrasting with dark underside of secondaries. Flight and hunting behaviour like Eurasian Marsh, but more graceful on the wing. Open grassland and cultivation in plains and hills.
Compare size with other birds
Every bird sits between two neighbours — bigger than one, smaller than the other. The sentences below are generated live from the database.
