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6

Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis) Alternate name(s): "Jardine's Harrier", "Allied Harrier"; misnomers: "Spotted Swamp-hawk", "Smoke Hawk" Aboriginal name(s): "piyeRng" [eastern djadjawurrung] Size: 50-60 cm; wing span 1.2-1.45 m Weight: 410-540 g (male), 530-745 g (female)

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Spotted Harriers have a predominantly brown to rufous plumage with white spots on their front, grey upperwings and a light-grey and dark-grey barred tail. The cap, neck and mantle are grey, while the owl-like face is chestnut-brown. The underwing pattern shows grey coverts and grey-and-white lined flight feathers with black tips (with the longest black tips on the primaries). The irises, legs and feet are yellow, the talons are black and the beak is grey. Juvenile and immature Spotted Harriers have mostly dark-brown plumage where adult birds are grey and their front is rufous-brown with dark-brown streaks (first year) and chestnut-brown with white streaks (second year). Twitcher's tip Spotted Harriers can often be seen flying low with dangling legs.

Taxonomy, classification See Spotted Harrier at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Spotted Harrier is available HERE . Spotted Harriers populate parts of eastern Indonesia and Australia. Spotted Harriers are found everywhere on the Australian continent, with the exception of Tasmania. In particular, they are well-adapted to the harsh conditions of the arid and semi-arid centre of the continent. Spotted Harriers hunt in tall grass and agricultural crops. They are therefore often found around paddocks and fields. They are also well-adapted to life in semi-arid and arid environments, hunting in open country, for example in open grassland, but often also along roadside margins. Where to look? How to find this species? Spotted Harriers are not always easy to pick up, but once seen their behaviour is unmistakable. If you see a large, dark-brown bird hovering low (just a few metres, sometimes only 1 m) above a paddock away from water, you have most likely spotted a Spotted Harrier. They can sometimes also be seen perched on fenceposts, also near roadsides. When seen from the front, a reddish tint in their plumage is a good identification criterium.

Sightings Click here for sighting information We have first seen a Spotted Harrier in March 2006 skirting the edge of bushland near Narrabri, hovering low above open grassland in search of prey. A Spotted Harrier was a temporary resident at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri, where it was seen repeatedly in the timeframe March-June 2007. Later, in November 2007, an immature bird moved into the area. Since then, they are seen semi-regularly, but infrequently, at the same location. In some years (with average to good rainfall) they are quite common; in other, drier years they can be hard to find. An adult Spotted Harrier was spotted by us at Goran Lake, an ephemeral lake about 30 km South of Gunnedah, NSW, in September 2011. Another Spotted Harrier was seen by us hunting in grassy roadside vegetation about 50 km West of Burren Junction, NSW, in June 2012. Many more Spotted Harriers were spotted by us on a trip into outback NSW in September 2012. R. Druce reports spotting an adult Spotted Harrier in Leard State Forest, near Maules Creek, NSW, in October 2012. F. Japp reports sighting a Spotted Harrier at Koorlong State Forest, near Meridian Road, VIC, in September 2014. H. Mouritsen reports spotting a Spotted Harrier between Pine Creek and Darwin, NT, in October 2015. J. Greaves reports spotting a Spotted Harrier near Cook, SA, on the edge of the Nullarbor, in June 2016. M. Eaton reports finding a Spotted Harrier at Atkinson Dam, near Lowood, QLD, in March 2019, and another at Postman's Track, Lake Samsonvale, QLD, in November 2019. A Spotted Harrier was also found at Blackbutt, QLD, in July 2020. P. Brown found Spotted Harriers near Katherine, NT, and alongside the Victoria Highway, westward of Timber Creek, NT, in March 2021. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours reports spotting a Spotted Harrier at Mossman, QLD, in October 2020.

Photos

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ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of an adult Spotted Harrier looking sideways
[Near Narrabri, NSW, August 2023]

Lateral view of a Spotted Harrier (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Blackbutt, QLD, July 2020]

Lateral view of a Spotted Harrier (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mossman, QLD, October 2020]

Lateral view of a Spotted Harrier on the point of departure (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mossman, QLD, October 2020]

Lateral view of a Spotted Harrier taking off, wings down (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mossman, QLD, October 2020]

Lateral view of a Spotted Harrier taking off, wings up (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mossman, QLD, October 2020]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a Spotted Harrier looking back at the observer
[Near Narrabri, NSW, May 2023]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a Spotted Harrier looking sideways
[Near Narrabri, NSW, May 2023]

Close-up dorsal view of a Spotted Harrier looking sideways
[Near Narrabri, NSW, May 2023]

Close-up dorsal view of a Spotted Harrier
[Near Narrabri, NSW, May 2023]

Frontal/ventral view of a Spotted Harrier in flight (photo courtesy of F. Japp)
[Koorlong State Forest, near Meridian Road, VIC, September 2014]

Frontal view of two adult Spotted Harriers in flight
[Near Warren, NSW, April 2017]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Spotted Harrier in flight (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mossman, QLD, October 2020]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Spotted Harrier in flight (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, October 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Spotted Harrier in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2020]

Lateral view of a Spotted Harrier in flight, showing clearly the spots giving the species its name (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Near Narrabri, NSW, June 2012]

Lateral view of a Spotted Harrier in flight, wings down
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2020]

Lateral view of a Spotted Harrier hunting along the edges of a wheat field while it was being harvested
[Near Bellata, NSW, November 2015]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Spotted Harrier (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Victoria Highway, W of Timber Creek, NT, March 2021]

Dorsal view of a Spotted Harrier in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2013]

Ventral view of a Spotted Harrier in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2020]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of an immature (second-year) Spotted Harrier hunting from a fence
[Near Burren Junction, NSW, June 2012]

Lateral view of a Spotted Harrier, now with its head turned; note the owl-like appearance of the head
[Near Burren Junction, NSW, June 2012]

Lateral view of a second-year Spotted Harrier hunting from a fence (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Leard State Forest, near Maules Creek, NSW, October 2012]

Near-dorsal view of a second-year Spotted Harrier in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2013]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a second-year Spotted Harrier being harassed by an Australian Raven
[Near Narrabri, NSW, August 2022]

Lateral view of an juvenile (first-year) Spotted Harrier
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2007]

The same Spotted Harrier as above, now with its head partly turned
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2007]

Spotted Harrier with its head now completely turned towards the observer; note the similarity with an owl's "face", an adaption to optimize forward localisation of sound made by prey
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2007]

Spotted Harrier going for a little skinny-dip in an ornamental pond...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2007]

Spotted Harrier after its bath, shaking off water
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2007]

Frontal view of a juvenile Spotted Harrier in intensely fresh rufous plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Postman's Track, Lake Samsonvale, QLD, November 2019]

Frontal view of a juvenile Spotted Harrier in intensely fresh rufous plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Postman's Track, Lake Samsonvale, QLD, November 2019]

Frontal view of a juvenile Spotted Harrier in intensely fresh rufous plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Postman's Track, Lake Samsonvale, QLD, November 2019]

Frontal view of a juvenile Spotted Harrier banking to land (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Postman's Track, Lake Samsonvale, QLD, November 2019]

Frontal view of a juvenile Spotted Harrier about to strike its prey - note the long legs
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2021]

Frontal view of a juvenile Spotted Harrier in flight (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2021]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Spotted Harrier in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2021]

Lateral view of a juvenile Spotted Harrier in flight keeping a keen eye on the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2021]

Lateral view of a juvenile Spotted Harrier in flight creating maximum lift
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2021]

Lateral/ventral view of a juvenile Spotted Harrier in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Spotted Harrier in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2021]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a juvenile Spotted Harrier in flight; this is the bird whose calls were recorded on 1 March 2021
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2021]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Spotted Harrier taking off from its perch - note the long legs
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2021]

(Incomplete) ventral view of a juvenile Spotted Harrier in flight; this is the bird whose calls were recorded on 1 March 2021
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2021]

Frontal view of a Spotted Harrier in flight (top); this bird was seen together with the juvenile shown below, suggesting that the juvenile may still have been dependent (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, October 2021]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Sep - Dec

Eggs: 2 - 4

Incubation period: ca. 33 days

Fledging age: ca. 42(?) days

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket

Material: Sticks, green leaves

Height above ground: 5 - 20(?) m

Unusually for a raptor, Spotted Harriers do not nest in a major fork of a tall tree, but often in the outer canopy.

Near-fledging age Spotted Harrier chick in its nest (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Coonamble/Baradine area, NSW, October 1980]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 50 x 40 mm

Colour: White, sometimes pale-blue

Shape: Ellipsoidal

Spotted Harrier nest with 2 eggs inside (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Coonamble/Baradine area, NSW, October 1980]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Dispersive/vagrant

Elementary unit: Solitary

Additional information

There is a separate page describing a juvenile Spotted Harrier's struggle to hunt for food.

There is a separate page on the peculiar flight and hunting technique of Spotted Harriers.

It appears that Spotted Harriers roam about the land, staying in a certain area for a while, ranging from days to months, and then move on again. They are probably following their potential prey, i.e. chiefly Brown Quail and Stubble Quail, who in turn move into areas where tall grass with seeds is available for both cover and as a food source.

Spotted Harrier hunting in its typical way, low above grassland, which in this case is a paddock
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2012]

Typical scenario how one may become a ware of a Spotted Harrier in the field, with huge wings spread in low flight above grassland or paddock
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2021]

Most of the time Spotted Harriers can be observed flying low above the ground in search for prey ("harrying"), but sometimes they also fly higher, circling in updrafts like other raptors.

Spotted Harrier hunting above wheat stubble
[Near Bellata, NSW, November 2013]

Spotted Harrier getting in the way of a Nankeen Kestrel
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2013]

Food, Diet

Adults: Small birds, rodents, lizards

Dependents: As adults

Water intake: None

All raptors are carnivores. Spotted Harriers prey on small animals, such as reptiles, small mammals and ground-dwelling birds.

During the first few weeks, raptors feed their chicks with pieces of meat. Later on in their development, the chicks learn to tear apart their parents' prey.

Lateral view of a juvenile Spotted Harrier with its kill, a mouse (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2021]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a Spotted Harrier with its kill, a mouse
[Near Burren Junction, NSW, July 2022]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a Spotted Harrier with its kill, a mouse
[Near Burren Junction, NSW, July 2022]

Dorsal view of a Spotted Harrier taking off with its kill, a Brown Quail
[Near Burren Junction, NSW, June 2012]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

spothar_20210301.m4a

(NW NSW)

"Squeal" call + "chattering" calls (juvenile)

© MD

More Spotted Harrier sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Tue, 21 November 2023, 6:32 +00:00