Broedgeval van vermoedelijk melanistisch wijfje Bruine Kiekendief Circus aeruginosus

During a survey of breeding Marsh Harriers in the Oostvaardersplassen, on 12 April 2022, a very dark female was detected (not yet present on 7 April). Later observations, substantiated with photos, showed that she had a light, streaked nape patch, whitish bases to the primaries on the underwing and a yellowish iris. She fledged three chicks (first seen in flight on 8 July), from which she was very difficult to distinguish apart from the above mentioned diagnostic features. At least one of her young had an orange crown. Most records of melanistic Marsh Harriers in the literature refer to adult males, and melanism is apparently much more common on breeding grounds in the East (north of the Caspian Sea) than in western Europe (but hard evidence is scarce).