Page 135 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

BIRDS OF PREY
Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae Species Circus cyaneus
Hen Harrier wings held up in slight
“V” while gliding
dark brown
black wingtips above
dark barring on
silvery grey
underwings bold
cream and white rump
brown bars FEMALE
on tail pale grey
body
MALE FEMALE
IN FLIGHT whitish line
under
cheeks

whitish dark streaks
underside
on bright buff
underside

FEMALE
MALE
grey tail

FLIGHT: deceptively quick, sailing flight with wings
en Harriers frequent heather moors in summer raised or steady, deep wingbeats; soars well.
H but are often found over coastal marshes or
low-lying, rough grassland in winter. Males and
females are very different in appearance and echo
the plumages of the closely related Montagu’s
Harrier.As with most birds of prey, females are
larger and broader-winged than males.
VOICE Near nest, loud, irregular week-eek-ik-ik-ik
from female; more even chekekekekekek from male. NESTING
This female is carrying
NESTING Platform of stems on ground, in rushes nesting material in its bill.
or heather; 4–6 eggs; 1 brood;April–June. Hen Harriers make a bulky
FEEDING Hunts low over open ground, swooping pad of heather stems and
down on small birds and voles. grass on the ground.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds in N and E Europe, mostly
MONTAGU’S HARRIER SHORT-EARED OWL big, on moorland or heaths, locally in
32; 2 has longer, similar to 2; round
slimmer wing- see p.243 head C and W Europe, on moors and
tips; see p.134 sometimes open farmland.
shorter
grey tail Widespread over open ground
rump with short vegetation, including
black wingbar marshes, in W Europe in winter.
3 Seen in the UK
J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 43–50cm (17–20in) Wingspan 1–1.2m (3 1 ⁄4 –4ft) Weight 300–700g (11–25oz)
Social Roosts in groups Lifespan Up to 15 years Status Vulnerable
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