Bird Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis)

[auscraft]

Scientific Name: Circus assimilis

Common Name: Spotted Harrier

Order: Accipitridae

Family: Falconidae

Other Names: Allied Harrier, Jardine's Harrier, Spotted Swamp-hawk

Distribution: Mainland Australia, but it is widespread and sparsely distributed

Habitat: Open wooded country in tropical and temperate Australia, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas.

Field Notes: A large slim-bodied raptor with a striking white-spotted chestnut breast and mainly blue-grey upper parts. It has an owl-like chestnut coloured facial disc with a narrow light grey ruff around it and yellow eyes. It has long slender yellow legs and a long tail, with a wedge-shaped tip. Its long, broad wings have dark, well rounded, 'fingered' tips. The female Spotted Harrier is larger than the male. Size 50 -62 cm

Pic by auscraft 2012, South Burnett.

View attachment 3922View attachment 3923

 

[auscraft]

Hairyman if you saw the dust in your rearview mirror as we were entering town this is why! braked and U turn all within 40 meters of the sightng.

 

[Dusty]

These are the rest of the photos we managed to shoot in the small window of opportunity we had. Luckily we always take 2 cameras.

Photos by Dusty, Feb 2012, South Burnett, QLD.



We believe the prey that has been caught is a brown quail

 

[chutes]

Oh wow.

Awesome shots Auscraft and Dusty!

 

[J.K.M]

Very nice Auscraft & Dusty!

 

[XT John]

Nice shots guys.

 

[Hairyman]

Lol , I did see yous pull up but thought it was a pit stop.
Wow, great shots and this must be the mystery raptor that Dusty M snapped a few
days ago flying away from him with the only ID features visible being slow flight and black wingtips.