Marsh Harrier
| Irish Name: | Cromán móna |
| Scientific name: | Circus aeruginosus |
| Bird Family: | Raptors |
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Conservation status
Conservation status
Status
Has bred in Ireland. A scarce summer visitor to well-vegetated wetlands from March to September throughout Ireland. May occasionally overwinter.
Identification
About the same size as Hen Harrier and has similar behaviour. Adult male Marsh Harriers are very distinctive, having an all grey head and reddishy-brown body. In flight, large black patches can be seen on the primaries, with the rest of the wing mainly grey. Adult females are a dark brown colour, except for beige partches on the head and throat. In flight, they appear almost uniformly brown. Subadult Marsh Harriers are variable in appearance, though most resemble females.
Voice
Generally silent when seen in Ireland.
Diet
Actively hunts for birds and small mammals in wetlands.
Breeding
Formerly bred in large reedbeds in Ireland. Single birds have been noted at several wetland sites throughout Ireland though these are almost always young non-breeding birds. Around 150 pairs of Marsh Harrier breed in the UK and this species is fairly common at wetland sites in Central and Eastern Europe.
Wintering
The European population is partially migratory. Some overwinter in western and southern Europe, while the majority move south to tropical Africa. Occasionally seen in winter at wetland sites in Ireland.
Monitored by
Predominantly a Summer visitor. Tacumshin Lake in County Wexford regularly hosts one or two Marsh Harriers in the summer months.
Most birds Winter in Mediterranean region and Africa but greater numbers are opting to reside in North-West of range.
