Malagasy harrier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Malagasy harrier |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Circus
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| Species: |
macrosceles
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| Synonyms | |
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Circus maillardi macrosceles |
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The Malagasy harrier (also called Circus macrosceles) is a type of bird of prey. It's part of the marsh harrier family. These birds live on the islands of Madagascar and the Comoro Islands in the Indian Ocean. People used to think it was a kind of Réunion harrier. But now, most experts agree it's its own special species. You might also hear it called the Madagascar harrier or Malagasy marsh harrier.
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About the Malagasy Harrier
The Malagasy harrier is a medium-sized bird. It grows to be about 42 to 55 centimeters long. Female harriers are a bit bigger than the males. They can be up to 13% larger.
What Malagasy Harriers Look Like
Male Malagasy harriers have a dark back, almost black. Their head is a bit grey with dark lines. Their belly and bottom are whitish. Their tail is grey with dark stripes. The front part of their wings and the tips are blackish. The back part of their wings are grey with dark stripes. Female harriers are mostly brown.
The Réunion harrier is a different, smaller bird. It is also darker than the Malagasy harrier. It has shorter legs and wings that are more rounded. Male Réunion harriers have a blacker head. Their back wing feathers and tail are plainer.
Where Malagasy Harriers Live
In Madagascar, you can find these birds in marshlands and grasslands. They live all over the island, except in the very south. They are not very common. The most harriers live in the northwest part of Madagascar. They can live from sea-level up to 1800 meters high.
On the Comoro Islands, they often live in drier places. They also like areas with forests. They have been seen on all four main islands. However, there are no recent sightings from Mayotte.
Why Malagasy Harriers Are Endangered
The exact number of Malagasy harriers is not known. Experts think there are between 250 and 999 of them left. Their numbers are going down. This is because of hunting and the loss of their homes. Their habitat is being destroyed. Because of this, BirdLife International has listed them as an endangered species.
Malagasy Harrier Behavior
Malagasy harriers are skilled hunters. They mostly eat other birds, like the Madagascar partridge. They also hunt reptiles, amphibians, small rodents, and insects.
How They Hunt
These birds usually fly low over the ground. When they see something to eat, they quickly drop down to catch it. They can also hunt by flying over the tops of trees in forests.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Malagasy harriers build their nests in marshlands. They make their nests from grass and plant stems. The nests are built on the ground or low in a bush. The female lays white eggs. The eggs are incubated for about 32 to 34 days. After hatching, the young birds stay in the nest for about 42 to 45 days before they can fly.
