Unusual raptor in Selwyn District

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Gregortims
Posts: 10
Joined: Thu May 20, 2021 4:49 pm

Unusual raptor in Selwyn District

Postby Gregortims » Fri Apr 12, 2024 7:49 pm

Hi everyone,

My mother-in-law sent me these photos of a raptor that she watched take a Hare in her garden today in the Selwyn District in Canterbury. I assume it is a strange coloured Swamp Harrier (there are loads around her garden), but I’ve never seen one with colouring like this. I was wondering if it might be an escaped Hawk of some type? It looks almost like an Eastern Marsh Harrier with those colours!
0f6d48fe-9d1e-4cda-aca7-009c265f10ef.jpeg
0f6d48fe-9d1e-4cda-aca7-009c265f10ef.jpeg (303.18 KiB) Viewed 362 times
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28b7f1ee-e5b3-47f4-a9e9-fdcf0d34aefa.jpeg (304.53 KiB) Viewed 362 times
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SomesBirder
Posts: 1404
Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2012 4:02 pm

Re: Unusual raptor in Selwyn District

Postby SomesBirder » Sat Apr 13, 2024 5:16 am

It is a Swamp Harrier with unusual colouration. There aren't any birds of prey in NZ that are found only in captivity.
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