Alternative Names (Synonyms)

• Hen harrier (Circus cyaneus cyaneus)
• American harrier (Circus cyaneus hudsonius)
• Busard Saint-Martin (French)
• Kornweihe (German)
• Albanella reale (Italian)
• Aguilucho pálido (Spanish)
• Blå kärrhök (Swedish)
• Blauwe Kiekendief (Dutch)

Names for newly-hatched

Names for non-breeding males or other colour-phases

References

Species Author

Major References

Aviculture references:

• Wildlife and Countryside Directorate, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR)
• British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)
• The Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
• Hawk and Owl Trust
• Independent Bird Register
• The National Birds of Prey Centre
• Raptor Lifeline
• Raptor Rescue

• FALCONIFORMES (Diurnal Birds of Prey)

TAXA Group (where information has been collated for an entire group on a modular basis)

Parent Group

• Birds of Prey

Specific Needs Group referenced in Management Techniques

• Birds of Prey

Aviculture Information

Notes

• Accommodation of Casualty Birds of Prey
• Hand-rearing Birds of Prey
• Catching and Handling of Birds of Prey
• Feeding of Casualty Birds of Prey
• Release of Casualty Birds of Prey

Measurement & Weight

• 45-55cm (B164); 43-51cm / 17-20 ins. (B166)
• Wingspan: 97-118cm (B164)

Head

Legs

Plumage

• Head including throat, and upperparts grey/blue-grey..
• Breast grey/blue-grey, abdomen white.
• Wings grey, except primaries black, trailing edge (tips of secondaries) dark.
• Tail long, square grey; upper tail coverts white.

(B164, B166)

• Head and upperparts brown, collar line pale
• Throat, breast and abdomen buff-white with brown streaking.
• Tail long brown with paler brown barring; upper tail coverts white.
• Wings: long dorsal surface brown with coverts variably yellowish, ventral coverts pale with brown streaks, flight feathers (primaries and secondaries) white with dark bands and dark tips.

(B164, B166)

• Similar to female, but underparts more yellow-rufous and less streaked, upperwing coverts more rufous, greater coverts pale tipped (B164, B166).

Newly-hatched Characteristics

Nest placement and structure

Egg clutches

Incubation

Hatching

Fledging

Sexual Maturity

Feeding Behaviour

• Flies low, over moors, young conifer plantations, quartering ground.
• May also fly along forest edges.
• Pounces quickly onto prey.

(B163, B166).

Parental Behaviour

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Social Behaviour

Sexual Behaviour

• Young males monogamous, but polygyny by older males, with up to five females (B163).
• Male passes food to female in flight during courtship-feeding (B163).

Predation in Wild

Activity Patterns

• High circling displays and flight displays, deeply undulating flight and alternating steep dives and steep climbs. (B163).
• Hovers, soars and glides; flight may be laboured (B166).
• Perches openly (B166).
• Takes off from vegetation and also lands on and takes off from ground (B166).

Adults

• Small birds.
• Small mammals (particularly voles).

(B163, B164, B166).

Newly-hatched

Distribution and Movement (Migration etc.)

• Britain: small population breeding in hill areas (B164, B166).

Movement:

• Winters to northern Africa, south and south-east Asia, northern South America (B89).
• Western populations resident (B163).
• Northern and eastern populations migratory: winter in southern and western Europe (B163).
• Britain: winter on coasts (B166).

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Habitat

Intraspecific variation

Conservation Status

Former marked decreases in many areas, but more recent recolonisation of some areas including mainland Scotland, northern England, Wales (B163).

• All Harriers are listed on Schedule 1 - Part I (Birds protected by special penalties: Notes on the revised schedules state "Birds protected by special penalties at all times") of the LUK2 - Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 of the United Kingdom. (W5.Oct01)
• This species is listed on Schedule 4 (Birds which must be registered and ringed if kept in captivity: Notes on the revised schedules state "Any bird, one of whose parents or other lineal ancestor was a bird of a kind specified in the above list") of the LUK2 - Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 of the United Kingdom. (W5.Oct01)

Captive Populations

Trade