top of page
Harriers
Marsh
Western Marsh Harrier
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Juvenile and female plumages are both brown. The yellowish crown, nape, marginal wing feathers and chest are lighter in juveniles whilst more dark rusty-yellowish in females. Both will have dark irises. Males have yellow eyes and a distinctive plumage with grey upperwings and lighter grey tail, black primaries and a rufous belly.
In Malta, Marsh Harriers can be seen soaring and hunting in open areas, especially on wheat fields.
Diet
Feeds mostly on small mammals and birds.
Longevity record
20 years (Found dead in Germany, D 16220)
Bagħdan Aħmar / Bagħdan tax-Xemx
Circus aeruginosus
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
Fairly common
Usually seen in
March - May, August - October
Occasionally seen in
recorded in all other months except July
Click on the image to open slideshow
1/39
Length (cm):
Wingspan (cm):
Weight (g):
47 - 56
115 - 130
400 - 800
Pallid
Pallid Harrier
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
A slender harrier with narrow wings. The adult male is a distinctive raptor with a white plumage pale, a grey head and a black wedge on the wing tips. The female has a whitish body with brown streaks heavier on the upper part, has a pale trailing edge of the hand and a white rump.
Female and immature birds often difficult to tell from Montagu's Harrier and Hen Harrier. Adult female differs from Montagu's by lack of dark band on upper wing, and by diffuse, sooty inner underwing. Pale bands do not reach wingtip, and under coverts are darker. Differs from female Hen Harrier by noticeably slimmer wings (both hand and arm) and only 4 fingers (but beware moulting Hen Harriers). Immature similar to Montagu's with unstreaked, rufous underparts. Differs in pale tips of inner primaries, and dark half-collar and pale "boa".
Diet
Feeds mostly on small mammals and birds.
Longevity record
13 years (France, FA 9410)
Bagħdan Abjad
Circus macrourus
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
Scarce
Usually seen in
March - April, September - October
Occasionally seen in
May, August, November
Click on the image to open slideshow
1/22
Length (cm):
Wingspan (cm):
Weight (g):
42 - 48
105 - 120
235 - 550
.jpg)
Hen
Hen Harrier
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
In all plumages: Glides with wings raised in shallow 'V'. Shows five primaries. This makes the wing tip broader than in Pallid and Montagu's harriers, and the wings seems shorter. Note that moulting individuals may show only four primaries.
The males have grey with black primaries, white rump and underparts, and broad black trailing edge to underwing. Note that subadult males may show partly black primaries like Pallid. Females have a brown with white rump, barred tail and streaked underparts.
Diet
Feeds mostly on small mammals and birds.
Longevity record
17 years (Hit by a car in the Netherlands, 3273552)
Bagħdan Ikħal
Circus cyaneus
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
Rare
Usually seen in
October - November
Occasionally seen in
January, March - May, July, September, December
Click on the image to open slideshow
Five primaries for Hen Harrier. Iris is pale yellow indicating a juvenile male.
Adult male
Five primaries for Hen Harrier. Iris is pale yellow indicating a juvenile male.
1/12
Length (cm):
Wingspan (cm):
Weight (g):
42 - 52
100 - 120
300 - 600
Montagu's
Montagu's Harrier
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
An elegant harrier with slender wings and four "fingers". Adult male easily recognized by single black band on upperwing, and double on underwing, and by rufous under wing-coverts.
Chest is considerably darker grey than in Pallid Harrier, in contrast to white lower belly. Adult female differs from Hen- and Pallid Harrier by dark upper wing-band (not as prominent as in male). Broad, pale subterminal band on underwing reaching all the way to wing pit. Under wing coverts barred. Immature birds told from Hen Harrier by rufous, almost unstreaked underparts. From Pallid Harrier by dark wing tips and no marked, dark neck sides or pale collar. Very similar to moulting Hen Harriers, with four "fingers".
Diet
Feeds mostly on small mammals and birds, bird eggs, reptiles and insects.
Longevity record
16 years (Found dead in Germany, D 178)
Bagħdan Irmiedi
Circus pygargus
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
Fairly common
Usually seen in
March - May, September
Occasionally seen in
August, October
Click on the image to open slideshow
1/24
Length (cm):
Wingspan (cm):
Weight (g):
42 - 47
105 - 130
230 - 450
*Some information was sourced from ''BirdID Nord University''.
bottom of page