A female Western Marsh Harrier, Circus aeruginosus, hovering as it prepares to land. Photographed in Ultima Frontiera, part of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in eastern Romania, in early morning light.
Marsh Harriers are medium-sized raptors which can be distinguished from other raptors by the lack of white on their rumps. Their preferred habitat is Phragmites australis reedbeds, and they feed on small mammals, small birds, insects, reptiles, and frogs.
In Ultima Frontiera, they often seemed to be living up to their name by harrying the much-larger White-Tailed Eagles.
This photo is copyright © Liz Leyden. All rights strictly as agreed in writing with the author or her agent.
My Marsh Harrier photo is available to purchase as a Royalty-free stock photo from iStock and also from GettyImages.
A different image from the Marsh Harrier sequence is available for sale as wall art or as various home or personal accessories at Pixels.com.
