African Marsh Harrier

Circus ranivorus

Gliding silently over wetlands, this skilled hunter scans the reeds for its next meal.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The African Marsh Harrier is a medium-sized raptor with a distinctive owl-like facial disc. Adults have rich brown plumage, black wing tips and a pale rump patch. The tail is barred with dark bands, and the legs are long and yellow.

Males are generally lighter in colour than females, with more distinct pale streaking on the breast and underwings. Juveniles resemble females but have a more uniform brown colouration and lack the barred tail of adults.

Size

Length

44cm to 52cm

Wingspan

100cm to 120cm

Weight

400g to 600g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown

Secondary Colour

Black White

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The African Marsh Harrier is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The African Marsh Harrier is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The African Marsh Harrier can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The African Marsh Harrier is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The African Marsh Harrier is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The African Marsh Harrier is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The African Marsh Harrier can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The African Marsh Harrier is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The African Marsh Harrier is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The African Marsh Harrier is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The African Marsh Harrier is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The African Marsh Harrier is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

African Marsh Harriers are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to South Africa. They inhabit various wetland habitats, including marshes, swamps, and flooded grasslands.

While primarily resident, some populations may undertake local movements in response to changing water levels or food availability. They are absent from densely forested areas and true deserts, preferring open landscapes with abundant water sources.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 3,000 meters

Climate zones

Tropical, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a African Marsh Harrier. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons