Page 136 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

BIRDS OF PREY
Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae Species Circus pygargus
Montagu’s Harrier unmarked
rufous
below
glides with
slender tapered wings raised
wingtips
medium grey
head
JUVENILE
MALE
pale crescents
black bar red-brown bars above and
across inner on underwings below eye
wings
dark
medium grey brown
long, narrow black upperparts above
wingtips angled back
FEMALE
banded
tail

pale
white below with FEMALE
rump bold streaks streaked
flanks
IN FLIGHT
MALE
ifficult to tell from the
DHen Harrier in most
circumstances, Montagu’s Harrier
is a slimmer, thin-winged bird more
closely associated with arable farmland. It is also a summer visitor FLIGHT: low, elegant, with wings raised in glides;
to Europe, and is absent in winter.This is the most delicate of all wingbeats relaxed, supple.
the elegant-looking birds of the family, the swept-
back, tapered wingtips often enough to aid
identification even at very long range.
VOICE High, clear yek-yek-yek from male, chek-ek-
ek-ek from female.
NESTING Nest of stems and grasses on ground in
corn or heather; 4 or 5 eggs; 1 brood;April–June.
FEEDING Catches small mammals, reptiles, and
small birds on or near ground, diving from low,
gliding flight.
OCCURRENCE
SIMILAR SPECIES Widespread in N to S Great Britain
(very rare) and to Baltic, from April
HEN HARRIER 32; to September, over heaths, rough
3has broader
wings and grassland, marshes, and rolling
white rump; darker cereal fields, often nesting in tall
see p.133 brown crops. Migrants typically follow
shorter and low-lying coasts but also use high
2 bulkier bigger IMMATURE MALE
and mountain passes.
heavier MARSH HARRIER 2 Young males often look dark, with
blunter similar to 2; a mixture of brown feathers Seen in the UK
wingtips see p.132
among the adult grey. J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 40–45cm (16–18in) Wingspan 1–1.2m (3 1 ⁄4 –4ft) Weight 225–450g (8–16oz)
Social Pairs/Small flocks Lifespan Up to 15 years Status Secure
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