Hawks and eagles
Hen Harrier
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Circus cyaneus
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Voice
Call
How to recognize it
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Length 46–47 cm; long wings and tail
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Adult male grey above, white below, with black wingtips
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Female and juvenile brown above, buff with streaking below; white rump patch
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Low gliding flight over fields, wings held in a shallow V
About the species
The male is pale grey above and white below, with black wingtips and a clean white patch at the base of the tail. Females and juveniles are brown above and buff underneath, crossed with darker bars; their white rump patch shows clearly against the darker back. Both sexes have long wings and tails that are especially apparent in flight.
It glides low over fields and moors, holding its wings in a shallow V and following the dips and rises of the ground. The male calls "chek-chek-chek" and, during display, gives a quicker "chuk-uk-uk-uk." It can also find prey by listening, using unusually keen hearing for a daytime hunter.
It breeds in marshes, grasslands, moorland and farmland, searching open ground for mostly small mammals. Frogs, reptiles and insects also feature in its diet. Many populations move south after breeding, while some in milder parts of Europe stay through winter.
Where to find
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Beyond the city, over a bog or heather moor, watch for the hen harrier's quiet, low flight as it searches for prey.
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At a forest clearcut or burn, scan stumps and fence posts — it may perch on these small rises.
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In winter, look for communal roosts in open country, where it may gather with merlins and marsh harriers.
