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Birds and Butterflies of Rhodes
RODOPTERA
Circus aeruginosus
Western marsh harrier (female). Greek: καλαμόκιρκoς (θηλικός).
Kalathos, May 2023.
Passage migrant, uncommon. Length 43-54 cm, wingspan 115-130 cm. Male reddish brown with grey tail and wing patch, female dark brown overall with buff head and throat. River mouths, reservoirs, coastal areas. Feeds on frogs, lizards, small mammals, often on bird eggs and chicks. Clumsy hunter, seeks easy prey gliding low above reed tops, grassy ground. Its presence causes waterbirds to take hastily to air.
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