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| Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus spilonotus
- Immature male in flight |
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| Photographer : | © Gnanaskandan KesavaBharathi |
| Location : | grassland around Irungattukotai, near Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Date : |
9 February 2016 |
| English synonyms: | Eastern Marsh-harrier, Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Marsh-harrier |
| Bird Family : | Accipitrinae - Hawks, Bazas, Honey-buzzards, Eagles, Kites, Vultures, Harriers & Buzzards |
| Bird Group : | CICONIIFORMES |
| Red Data Status : | Unspecified |
| Remarks : | Bulky harrier very close to size of Western Marsh Harrier female. In flight under-wing was all white with little warmer streaking at coverts, upperwing coverts speckled black/white/buff, wing much wider at base, greyer tail with dull brown barring, greyer secondaries contrasting with darker mantle, conspicuous white rump, outer primaries black, more pronounced head, darker wide ear covert patch, darker trailing edge on upperwing. Flight was matching that of Western Marsh harrier. The dark trailing edge in upper & underwing + dark ear coverts + bold black streaking in upper breast + wide wing panel eliminates Pied Harrier immature male. All grey secondaries with dark trailing edge + all white underwing + wider outer primaries & wing + mottled (black & white mostly) mantle & upperwing coverts eliminates Pied Harrier female. - GK |
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