Swamp Harriers or “Swampies’ as some farmers now call them, are slow flying birds of prey or raptors that live for up to ten years.

Harriers are usually seen gliding in large circles or hovering at ‘stall speed’ a few metres above a grain or fodder crop. They flush out prey along fence lines or over swampland, and occasionally eat carrion by the roadside. They are masters at vertical take-off and landing.

Fast facts:

• Adults are speckled brown with a white rump and pale yellow legs. As they age, they develop more distinct facial disc markings
• Juveniles are darker, more solid brown colour with a paler rump
• Seen singly, or in pairs during spring/summer breeding season
• When in flight, their wings form a distinctive ‘V’ shape
• Wing span of approx. 1 metre
• Standing height of up to 60 cms
• Ground-nesting
• Females weigh 850 – 900 grams (larger of the two)
• Males are 2/3 the size of the female
• Call is a short whistling ‘kee’
• Eat small animals and birds including mice, rats, rabbits and carrion (dead and decaying).

Visit the Gallery to see photos of the Swamp Harrier

Nesting Sites

Harriers build a nest on the ground, usually within grass or crop cover.
A Harrier pair will begin to construct a ground platform nest of dry grasses and sticks until it measures about 60 cm across or about the size of a dustbin lid. Nests are typically built up to be around 30 cm tall.
Surveys have identified nest sites in traditional hay and cereal crops and also in sophisticated field plantings of pyrethrum, poppies and peas.
Egg incubation period is between 21 and 23 days with an average of three chicks hatched.

Visit the Gallery to see photos of Swamp Harrier nests in the harvest