Marsh harrier

Marsh harriers are the most common of the four Harriers that occur in the Netherlands. It's the only Harrier that can be found here all year round. In one of my favorite birding sites, the Beninger polder on Voorne Putten, multiple couples are to be admired and they breed there every year.

All my pictures can be found here.

Field characteristics

Males and females differ in plumage quite much. Females and first calendar-yeard birds are brown with a lighter yellow head while males are three-coloured with a brownish body, grey patches on the wings and black wing-tips. The bird can be identified by the lang wings with 5 primaries (fingers) and the characteristic way of hunting, zigzagging low over the reed.

Sound: