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Key information: The Marsh Harrier can be seen flying low above marshes and reed-beds looking for prey. It is a large bird of prey with broad wings. It can be seen perched on bushes at the edge of the reed-bed, especially during spring and autumn migration. Some, mostly females, spend the winter in Cyprus.
Length: 43 – 55 cm | Wingspan: 115 – 140 cm
Habitat: Wetlands
When they can be seen: Autumn, winter, spring
What they eat: Small birds and mammals
In Cyprus: Can be seen at wetlands such as Oroklini Lake and Akrotiri Marsh
Status: Passage migrant, winter visitor
Illustration by Paschalis Dougalis