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Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans)
French: Busard de Gould German: Sumpfweihe Spanish: Aguilucho lagunero del Pacífico
Other common names: Pacific Marsh-harrier, Pacific Harrier, Australasian Marsh-harrier
Taxonomy: Circus approximans Peale, 1848, Vanua Levu, Fiji.
Has been considered a race of C. aeruginosus, from which separated by plumage (see C. aeruginosus, above). Supposedly larger race gouldi, only slightly darker above and little more heavily streaked below, often considered not worthy of recognition. Two subspecies tentatively recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution
C. a. gouldi Bonaparte, 1850 – Australia (except arid interior), Tasmania and New Zealand, and Chatham Is.
C. a. approximans Peale, 1848 – Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Loyalty Is E through Melanesia and W Polynesia to Tonga.
Introduced to Society Is, e.g. Tahiti, in 1885. |
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