The Marsh Harrier 

 THE MARSH HARRIER 



Circus ceruginosus (Linnaeus) 



Formerly this species used to breed regularly in many 

 places in England, where large stretches of marsh-land suit- 

 able to its habits were to be found. A pair or two may 

 occasionally still try to rear a brood in East Anglia, but 

 owing to the drainage of the fens, it is no longer known in 

 any of its former haunts. In Ireland, where it was formerly 

 fairly common, its breeding area is restricted to one locality. 

 To Scotland it has always been an extremely rare visitor. 

 On migration small numbers of this species visit England 

 and Wales yearly. The nest is a fairly substantial structure, 

 built of reeds and grass, and placed on the ground. The 

 eggs, which generally number five, are pale bluish white 

 without any other markings. 



In plumage this species varies greatly according to age ; 

 the adult male is dark brown on the back, head creamy 

 white with dark streaks, wing coverts and tail silvery grey ; 

 primaries blackish. Under parts buff streaked with brown. 

 In the female the tail and under parts are brown. Young 

 birds are chocolate brown ; the entire crown of the head is 

 huffish white in the males, but in the females the nape only 

 is yellowish. Length (of males) 21 in. ; wing 16 in. 



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