Hawks and Eagles (Accipitridae)

Pacific Marsh-harrier (Circus approximans) - HBW 2, p. 138

French: Busard de Gould German: Sumpfweihe Spanish: Aguilucho Lagunero del Pacífico
Other common names: Australasian/Swamp Harrier

Taxonomy: Circus approximans Peale, 1848, Vanua Levu, Fiji.
Has been considered a race of C. aeruginosus, with which it forms superspecies, along with C. ranivorus, C. spilonotus and C. maillardi; separated by plumage. Supposedly larger race gouldi of New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand shown by recent work not to differ. Monotypic.

Distribution: S New Guinea (breeding uncertain), Melanesia, Australia, New Zealand and Polynesia E to Tonga. Introduced to Society Is.