Western Marsh Harrier
by
Shop
Shop
Circus aeruginosus
Rare residents with 425 pairs breeding in Eastern & Northern England, recently bred in Southern England.
Male's plumage is mostly a cryptic reddish-brown with lighter yellowish streaks, which are particularly prominent on the breast.
The head and shoulders are mostly pale greyish-yellowish.
The rectrices and the secondary and tertiary remiges are pure grey, the latter contrasting with the brown forewing and the black primary remiges at the wingtips.
The Female is almost entirely chocolate-brown.
The top of the head, the throat and the shoulders are of a conspicuously lighter yellowish colour.
Juveniles are similar to females, but usually have less yellow, particularly on the shoulders.
They have a orangy head.