Family Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae)
Endangered
Reunion Marsh-harrier (Circus maillardi)
Taxonomy
French: Busard de Maillard German: Réunionweihe Spanish: Aguilucho lagunero de Reunión
Other common names:
Reunion Harrier,
Madagascar Marsh-harrier (when lumped with C. macrosceles)
Taxonomy:
Circus Maillardi
J. P. Verreaux
, 1862,Reunion Island
.Distribution:
Reunion I.
Descriptive notes
42–54 cm; wingspan 105–140 cm. Rather large and bulky Circus (though smaller than closely related C. macrosceles), with thin head, long... read more
Voice
Basically silent except during breeding season, when gives vocalizations similar to those of other... read more
Habitat
Extensive surveys conducted from late Oct 1997 to mid-May 1998. Breeding pairs found most often in... read more
Food and feeding
Feeds on small vertebrates and insects. Original diet on Reunion probably entirely birds and insects (including grasshoppers and... read more
Breeding
Laying mostly from Dec–Mar. Twisting aerial display with calling performed by C. macrosceles apparently is... read more
Movements
Mostly sedentary, although some movement to lower elevations outside the nesting season.
Status and conservation
ENDANGERED. CITES II. Tiny range, confined to Reunion I, where population extremely small and loss and degradation of habitat are continuing. Estimates of numbers vary, from... read more
Traditionally regarded as a member of the C. aeruginosus species-group (see C. aeruginosus). Has sometimes been treated as conspecific with C. spilonotus. Until recently was considered conspecific with C. macrosceles, but differs on account of significantly smaller size (wing 355 mm vs 410 mm#R; at least 1) yet with longer claws and middle toe#R (at least 1) (2); in male, head or at least cheek black vs with blackish-and-whitish streaks (2); in male, flight-feathers unbarred and tail with subterminal dark band vs flight-feathers with two narrow bars, tail with four (2); in female, wings uniformly dark brown vs pale brownish-grey with dark streaking on coverts and barring on wings (3); white rump on male and barred rump on female vs barred rump on male and white rump on female (ns[2]). Monotypic.