The swamp harrier (Circus approximans), also known as the Australasian marsh harrier or Australasian harrier, is found widely across Australasia, including Australia, New Zealand, and parts of the Pacific. In New Zealand, the Māori name is kāhu – a symbol of victory and chieftainship. Swamp harriers hunt in open country, feeding on small birds and mammals up to the size of rabbits, as well as lizards, frogs, fish, and large insects, as well as carrion. Juveniles are uniformly dark chocolate brown, while adults become much lighter, tawny-brown, and heavily streaked with pale cream or buff.
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