© Askar Isabekov
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Circus aeruginosus Linnaeus, 1758 Marsh-Harrier
Races:
Circus aeruginosus aeruginosus Linnaeus, 1758
Circus aeruginosus spilonotus Kaup, 1847
 No Synonyms
 Description
Common breeding migrant. Inhabits lakes, rivers and reservoirs with reed-beds and reed mace. Appears mid-March in southern areas, and mid-April in the north; at Chokpak Pass last birds observed up to mid-May. Breeds in separate pairs, not closer than 200 m apart. Nest is built in reed-beds or mace reeds amongst water, on islands or shores 5-10 m from water with twigs, dry reed and grass stems and other vegetation, carried in feet. Clutches of 3-6, more often 4-5 eggs mid-April – May. Female incubates from first egg for 32-35 days, male feed her. Juveniles hatch second half May – early July. Both parents feed them and they fly early July – August. Autumn migration begins end August, and in northern areas they disappear mid-September, but in southern areas mid – end October only.
 Races
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Circus aeruginosus aeruginosus Linnaeus, 1758
Male in full plumage has rufous-buffy head with dark brown streaking, back dark-brown with rusty edges, scapulars dark-brown with grey cross bands at base, upper tail coverts brown with grey spots, cheeks and ear coverts brown. First five primaries black with white base to inner webs, outer ones silvery. Others primaries bluish grey with whitish pattern. Throat whitish, breast and belly brownish-red with dark streaks. Female in full plumage has lighter head and top part of neck, back and shoulders darker than spilonotus.
Nests throughout plains of Kazakhstan, except waterless and mountain areas; widespread on migration. Wintering south of Chimkent. On Chardara reservoir 18-21 December 2003 observed 30 birds.
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| Circus aeruginosus spilonotus Kaup, 1847
Male in full plumage has greyish-white head with sharp dark-brown streaks, back black with grey edges, scapulars and upper tail coverts black with silvery-grey cross pattern, cheeks and ear coverts black with greyish edges and streaks. First five primaries white at base, black at top with black outer web having silvery shade. Others primaries grey with black cross pattern and white spots on inner webs. Under parts white with black bands, sometimes with ochre shade on crop and breast. Female in full plumage has darker head and crown; back and scapulars lighter than aeruginosus.
Possibly present in eastern and south-eastern Kazakhstan during migration. Unidentified subspecies of stray birds seen on Markakol’ lake, on lake at confluence Bayancol and Tekes rivers in 1948-1950 at 2000 m and 21 August 1973 in highlands of Zailiyskiy Alatau ridge, Bolshoye Almatinskoye lake.
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 References
Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005
Ý.È.Ãàâðèëîâ. "Ôàóíà è ðàñïðîñòðàíåíèå ïòèö Êàçàõñòàíà". Àëìàòû, 1999.
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