Species:

Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus)

Shag (Gulosus aristotelis)

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Length (cm):
43-47
65-80
Wingspan (cm):
105-120
90-105
Weight (gram):
227-445
1760-2154
Size group:
Crow-size
Bigger than a crow
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Elegant harrier, with slender wings and 4 "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. Beware of moulting Hen Harriers, with 4 "fingers".

Sound:

Quite similar to Hen Harrier. Seldom heard, even at breeding ground. Sharp "ke-ke-ke-ke", and various high-pitched whistling sounds.

Call:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-sound:Marco Dragonetti, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Radovan Václav, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Radovan Václav, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Easily distinguished from Cormorant in breeding plumage, but at other times easily confused with congeners. Smaller than Cormorant, with a more slender neck and rounded head. Bill slender and straight. Steep forehead with peaked front crown, differs from the wedge shaped head of Cormorant. Bill often with yellow tinge (never in Cormorant). Flies with quicker wing-beats and straight neck (Cormorant with bulge). Often dives with a high jump. Juveniles with darker underparts than Cormorant, and often an obvious brownish tinge. Rare in brackish water.

Sound:

Very deep and harsh voice heard at breeding ground. Deep grunts alternated, or ended with clicking sounds.

Social interaction:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

CC

Sounds:www.xeno-canto.org,Jens Kirkeby,http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Raptors
Silhouette
Auks/Cormorants
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species