Alternative Names (Synonyms)

• Busard cendré (French)
• Wiesenweihe (German)
• Albanella minore (Italian)
• Aguilucho cenizo (Spanish)
• Ängshök (Swedish)
• Grauwe 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

• 39-50cm (B164).
• Wingspan 96-116cm (B164).

Head

Legs

Plumage

• Head, dorsal body: grey.
• Ventral body (underparts): white with chestnut streaking.
• Tail: long narrow and square-ended grey.
• Wings long and narrow dorsal pale grey, with secondaries paler grey, base of secondaries black tipped (line along wing), primaries (wing tip) black.

(B164, B166)

• Dorsal (upperparts): brown.
• Tail: brown with darker bands and upper tail coverts white.
• Ventral (underparts): buffy, streaked brown.
• Wings: buffy, with flight feathers having darker bands.

(B166).

• Similar to female, underparts more uniformly rufous (B166).

Newly-hatched Characteristics

Nest placement and structure

Egg clutches

Incubation

Hatching

Fledging

Sexual Maturity

Feeding Behaviour

Parental Behaviour

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Social Behaviour

Sexual Behaviour

Predation in Wild

Activity Patterns

• Displays include downwards spiralling flight with both wings and tail spread (B163).
• Perches openly. (B166).
• Lands and takes off from vegetation or ground (B166).

Adults

Newly-hatched

Distribution and Movement (Migration etc.)

Movement:

• Migratory, wintering in Africa and India (B163, B164); to southern frica and southern Asia. (B89)
• In Britain: present from April to September (B164).

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Habitat

• Breeding: open country with bushes and trees. Often near lakes or in river valleys; also open plains, bogs.
• Winter: usually non-wetland areas.

(B163, B166)

Intraspecific variation

Conservation Status

Widespread declines in population; European and central Asian populations fragmented (B163)

• Britain: only handful of breeding pairs (less than ten pairs) (B164, B166).

• 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