Swamp Harrier
Swamp HarrierSwamp Harrier

Swamp Harrier

Circus approximans

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Insufficient data
overall probability at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
2 Verified records at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The swamp harrier (Circus approximans), also known as the Australasian marsh harrier or Australasian harrier, is a large, slim bird of prey widely distributed across Australasia. In New Zealand, it is also known by the Māori name kāhu. It arrived in New Zealand within the last 700 years, replacing the larger species, the extinct New Zealand endemic Eyles's harrier. The swamp harrier belongs to the subfamily Circinae and genus Circus, which are represented worldwide, except Antarctica. The subfamily and genus are derived from the characteristic behaviour of circling flight during courtship and hawking. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Spotted Harrier
LC

Spotted Harrier

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circus assimilis

<5% · Rare
Black-breasted Kite
LC Endemic

Black-breasted Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hamirostra melanosternon

10–20% · With luck
Little Eagle
LC Endemic

Little Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hieraaetus morphnoides

10–20% · With luck
Black-shouldered Kite
LC Endemic

Black-shouldered Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Elanus axillaris

5–10% · Rare
Whistling Kite
LC

Whistling Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliastur sphenurus

<5% · Rare
Wedge-tailed Eagle
LC Endemic

Wedge-tailed Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aquila audax

<5% · Rare
Black Kite
LC

Black Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Milvus migrans

<5% · Rare
Letter-winged Kite
NT Endemic

Letter-winged Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Elanus scriptus

Insufficient data
Square-tailed Kite
LC Endemic

Square-tailed Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lophoictinia isura

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

📊

Fewer than 5 records of Swamp Harrier at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park — not enough to chart months honestly.

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Fiordland National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
30–40%
2 Abel Tasman National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
20–30%
3 Tongariro National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
20–30%
4 Arthur's Pass National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
20–30%
5 Aoraki Mount Cook National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
10–20%
6 Wilsons Promontory National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
5–10%
7 Maria Island National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
5–10%
8 Rakiura National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
5–10%
9 Great Otway National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
5–10%
10 Grampians National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
5–10%
11 Booderee National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
12 Kakadu National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
13 Royal National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
14 Daintree National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
15 Blue Mountains National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
16 Freycinet National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
17 Ningaloo Marine Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
18 Lorentz National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
Insufficient data
19 Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
20 Kosciuszko National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
21 Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
22 Lamington National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
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