General Description

Females have red-brown underparts, while males are lighter. They have a long, rounded tail with wide dark and light brown stripes. In flight, the five outermost feathers on their wingtips are very prominent, like fingers. Legs and eyes are yellow. Juveniles are darker all over. Body length up to 62 cm. Swamp Harriers have a slow flight, sailing close to the water on upward facing wings.


Swamp Harriers glide slowly over swamp vegetation at a low height to startle their prey, which they then pounce on. They feed on small rodents, rabbits, birds, eggs, reptiles, frogs and large insects. Nests are hidden in reeds above the water in swamps or in long grass or crops next to water. The male hunts for food while the female incubates the eggs and cares for the chicks. Males will transfer food to the female during flight before she returns to feed the young. During the breeding season, nests shouldn't be approached as the adult birds are easily disturbed by the presence of people and will abandon their eggs and chicks. Swamp Harriers migrate north in autumn, flying and roosting in groups. They will also move inland after heavy rain.


Pacific Islands, New Zealand. Western, northern, eastern and south-eastern mainland Australia and Tasmania.


Wetlands, saltmarsh, grasslands and heathlands.

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