Swamp Harrier

Scientific name: Circus approximans

Meaning of name:

Circus is from the Greek word circos, meaning hawk. Approximans is a Latin word meaning approaching.

Aboriginal Name:

Djilyoordo (chill’or’daw).

Distribution:

Found mostly in the southwest and southeast of Australia but can be found in most areas after high rainfall and flooding.

Description:

Up to 60 centimetres long with a 145 centimetre wingspan.

Notes:

The furthest distance recorded by the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme for this species of bird to travel is 1,522 km. The oldest bird recorded was recovered 11 years 0.5 months after being banded (information as at 14 June 2012).

References:

Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Various contributors.

What Bird is That? Neville W Cayley. 1978

Aboriginal names of bird species in south-west Western Australia, with suggestions for their adoption into common usage. Ian Abbott. 2009. Conservation Science Western Australia Journal. Volume 7 No 2 https://library.dbca.wa.gov.au/Journals/080559/080559-07.015.pdf

Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/science/abbbs/abbbs-search.html

Atlas of Living Australia https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/c568921e-f800-4a6e-b88c-6d409def1e20