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Spotted HarrierAlternate name(s): "Jardine's Harrier", "Allied Harrier"; misnomers: "Spotted Swamp-hawk", "Smoke Hawk" ![]() 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 |
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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]
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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]
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: Sep - Dec | Eggs: 2 - 4 | Incubation period: ca. 33 days | Fledging age: ca. 42(?) days |
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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]
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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]
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Dispersive/vagrant | Elementary unit: Solitary |
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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]
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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]
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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
.