Reunion Marsh-harrier (Circus maillardi)

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.