Adult males differ from females in that they have a pale grey wash to the dorsal secondaries and primaries.

The tail and flight feathers have dark barring at all ages, but this is rarely visible in the juvenile birds.

[2] The African marsh harrier has a varied diet which includes small mammals (70% of items[4]) and adult birds, fledglings, lizards, frogs and large insects.

[2] African marsh harriers are reported to be common at many wetland sites in both eastern and southern Africa, especially in Uganda, Botswana and Zambia.

In South Africa, an estimated 3,000-6,000 pairs remain, but some populations are declining and the species is regarded as regionally endangered.

[4][5] Outside South Africa there are still large areas of suitable habitat, e.g. the Okavango Delta in Botswana and over much of Zambia, and the species is still locally common .

[1] Populations are declining due to drainage and damming of wetland habitats, over-grazing and human disturbance and, possibly, pesticide poisoning.