Circus pygargus

Montagu’s Harrier is a relatively rare bird of prey that visits South Africa between December and March, when it may be seen coursing the open grasslands and floodplains of the Lowveld, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Free State (though it is occasionally recorded in our other provinces as well). It is seasonally widely distributed over much of Africa, Europe, Arabia and western Asia and, despite a population declining mainly due to loss of habitat, is still considered to be of least concern by the IUCN. They feed mainly on insects and are particularly fond of locusts. Females are considerably larger than males and weigh about 370g.

Montagu’s Harrier female

Montagu’s Harrier male