Malagasy harrier: Difference between revisions
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{{Taxobox |
{{Taxobox |
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| name = Madagascar Marsh Harrier |
| name = Madagascar Marsh Harrier |
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| status = |
| status = VU |
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| status_system = IUCN3.1 |
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| image = |
| image = |
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| image_caption = |
| image_caption = |
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
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| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] |
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] |
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| familia = [[Accipitridae]] |
| familia = [[Accipitridae]] |
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| genus = ''[[Circus (genus)|Circus]]'' |
| genus = ''[[Circus (genus)|Circus]]'' |
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| species = '''''C. |
| species = '''''C. macrosceles''''' |
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| binomial = ''Circus |
| binomial = ''Circus macrosceles'' |
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| binomial_authority = [[ |
| binomial_authority = [[Alfred Newton|Newton]], 1863 |
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| synonyms = ''Circus maillardi macrosceles'' |
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}} |
}} |
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The '''Madagascar Marsh Harrier''' (''Circus |
The '''Madagascar Marsh Harrier''' (''Circus macrosceles'') is a [[bird of prey]] belonging to the [[marsh harrier]] group of [[harrier (bird)|harriers]]. It inhabits [[Madagascar]] and the [[Comoro Islands]] in the [[Indian Ocean]]. It was formerly regarded as a [[subspecies]] of the [[Réunion Harrier]] (''C. maillardi'') but is increasingly treated as a separate species. It is also known as the '''Madagascar Harrier''', '''Malagasy Harrier''' or '''Malagasy Marsh Harrier'''. |
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==Description== |
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The male has a blackish head and back with white streaks and a white belly. The tail is grey, the rump is white and the wings are grey and black with a white leading edge. Females are dark brown with a white rump and barred tail. |
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It is about 59 cm long; the female is up to 13% larger than the male. The male has a blackish back and a greyer head with dark streaks. The underparts and rump are whitish and the tail is grey with dark bars. The forewings and wingtips are blackish while the secondaries are grey with dark bars. Females are browner than the males. |
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The Réunion Harrier is smaller and darker with shorter legs and shorter, more rounded wings. Males have a blacker head and plainer secondaries and tail. |
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| ⚫ | In Madagascar it is found in [[marshland]] and [[grassland]] across the island except for the south. It is generally scarce with the largest numbers in the north-west. On the Comoros it is more often found in drier habitats |
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==Distribution and habitat== |
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On Réunion it is typically found in forested upland areas between 300 and 700 m above sea-level. It also visits [[sugarcane|cane fields]] and grassland. Today its diet includes many introduced mammals ([[rat]]s, [[mouse|mice]] and [[tenrec]]s) but it originally fed mainly on birds and insects. The subspecies has a number of adaptations which are unusual among harriers: broad rounded wings for hunting between trees and a short [[tarsus]] and long claws which are common among those birds of prey which feed on other birds. It breeds between January and May and lays two or three white eggs. |
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| ⚫ | In Madagascar it is found in [[marshland]] and [[grassland]] across the island except for the south. It is generally scarce with the largest numbers in the north-west. It occurs from sea-level up to 1800 m. On the Comoros it is more often found in drier habitats and in forested areas. It has occurred on all four main islands but there are no recent records from [[Mayotte]]. |
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Its population size is uncertain but is estimated to be between 250 and 999 individuals. It is thought to be declining as a result of hunting and habitat destruction and is classed as [[vulnerable species|vulnerable]] by [[BirdLife International]]. |
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In 1893 [[Alfred Newton]] and [[Hans Gadow]] described tarsometatarsi, tibiae and metacarpals from a goshawk called ''Astur alphonsi'' (later renamed in ''Accipiter alphonsi'' and ''Circus alphonsi'') from Mauritius. In 1958 James Greenway considered this taxon as conspecific with the [[Pied Harrier]]. A later examination of the bones came to the conclusion that ''Astur alphonsi'' is actually identical with ''Circus maillardi'' which formerly occurred on Mauritius too but is now extirpated. |
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==Behaviour== |
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It feeds mainly on birds such as the [[Madagascar Partridge]] and also takes [[reptile]]s, [[amphibian]]s, [[rodent]]s and [[insect]]s. It typically feeds by flying low over the ground and dropping down rapidly when it spots its prey. It will also hunt over the canopy of forests. |
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It breeds in marshland, building a [[bird nest|nest]] of grass and stems on the ground or low in a bush. The white [[egg (biology)|eggs]] are [[avian incubation|incubated]] for about 32-34 days and the young birds [[fledge]] after 42-45 days. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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| ⚫ | |||
*James Greenway: Extinct and Vanishing Birds of the World, 1958 (1967 for the 2nd edition) |
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| ⚫ | |||
*Walter Rothschild: Extinct Birds, 1907 |
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*Ferguson-Lees, James & Christie, David A. (2001) ''Raptors of the World'', Christopher Helm, London. |
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*Anthony Cheke & Julian Hume: Lost Land of the Dodo, 2008 |
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*Global Raptor Information Network (2008) [http://www.globalraptors.org/grin/SpeciesResults.asp?specID=8207 Species account: Madagascar Marsh Harrier ''Circus macrosceles'']. Downloaded from http://www.globalraptors.org on [[4 August]] [[2008]]. |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
*Cécile Mourer-Chauviré, Roger Bour & Sonia Ribes: The taxonomic identity of Circus alphonsi (Newton & Gadow 1893), the extinct harrier from Mauritius. IBIS Volume 146 Issue 1, Pages 168 - 172 |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*BirdLife International ( |
*BirdLife International (2008) [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sites/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3403&m=0 Species factsheet: ''Circus macrosceles'']. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on [[4 August]] [[2008]]. |
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*BirdLife International (2006) [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sites/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=30003&m=0 Species factsheet: Circus maillardi]. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/2/2007 |
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{{falconiformes-stub}} |
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[[Category:Harriers]] |
[[Category:Harriers]] |
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[[Category:Birds of Madagascar]] |
[[Category:Birds of Madagascar]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Birds of Comoros]] |
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[[Category:Fauna of the Mascarenes]] |
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[[fr:Papangue]] |
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[[ja:マダガスカルチュウヒ]] |
[[ja:マダガスカルチュウヒ]] |
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Revision as of 20:25, 4 August 2008
| Madagascar Marsh Harrier | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
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| Species: | C. macrosceles
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| Binomial name | |
| Circus macrosceles Newton, 1863
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| Synonyms | |
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Circus maillardi macrosceles | |
The Madagascar Marsh Harrier (Circus macrosceles) is a bird of prey belonging to the marsh harrier group of harriers. It inhabits Madagascar and the Comoro Islands in the Indian Ocean. It was formerly regarded as a subspecies of the Réunion Harrier (C. maillardi) but is increasingly treated as a separate species. It is also known as the Madagascar Harrier, Malagasy Harrier or Malagasy Marsh Harrier.
Description
It is about 59 cm long; the female is up to 13% larger than the male. The male has a blackish back and a greyer head with dark streaks. The underparts and rump are whitish and the tail is grey with dark bars. The forewings and wingtips are blackish while the secondaries are grey with dark bars. Females are browner than the males.
The Réunion Harrier is smaller and darker with shorter legs and shorter, more rounded wings. Males have a blacker head and plainer secondaries and tail.
Distribution and habitat
In Madagascar it is found in marshland and grassland across the island except for the south. It is generally scarce with the largest numbers in the north-west. It occurs from sea-level up to 1800 m. On the Comoros it is more often found in drier habitats and in forested areas. It has occurred on all four main islands but there are no recent records from Mayotte.
Its population size is uncertain but is estimated to be between 250 and 999 individuals. It is thought to be declining as a result of hunting and habitat destruction and is classed as vulnerable by BirdLife International.
Behaviour
It feeds mainly on birds such as the Madagascar Partridge and also takes reptiles, amphibians, rodents and insects. It typically feeds by flying low over the ground and dropping down rapidly when it spots its prey. It will also hunt over the canopy of forests.
It breeds in marshland, building a nest of grass and stems on the ground or low in a bush. The white eggs are incubated for about 32-34 days and the young birds fledge after 42-45 days.
References
- Barré, Nicolas; Barau, Armand & Jouanin, Christian (1996) Oiseaux de la Réunion, Les Éditions du Pacifique, Paris.
- Clarke, Roger (1995) The Marsh Harrier, Hamlyn, London.
- Ferguson-Lees, James & Christie, David A. (2001) Raptors of the World, Christopher Helm, London.
- Global Raptor Information Network (2008) Species account: Madagascar Marsh Harrier Circus macrosceles. Downloaded from http://www.globalraptors.org on 4 August 2008.
- Sinclair, Ian & Langrand, Olivier (1998) Birds of the Indian Ocean Islands, Struik, Cape Town.
External links
- BirdLife International (2008) Species factsheet: Circus macrosceles. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 4 August 2008.