Hen Harrier
Circus cyaneus
This species exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism; males are a striking pale grey, while females are larger, brown, and possess a white rump patch known as a 'ringtail'.
- Scientific name
- Circus cyaneus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Accipitriformes › Accipitridae › Circus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- decreasing
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Open moorlands, bogs, salt marshes, and extensive grasslands.
- Diet
- Primarily small mammals like voles and small ground-nesting birds like meadow pipits.
- Range
- Europe, Asia, North Africa
- Size
- Length 41-52 cm, wingspan 97-122 cm
- Lifespan
- 7-12 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Illegal persecution by land managers, loss of moorland habitat, and changes in grazing pressure.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to humans. Observe from a distance with binoculars. During spring and summer, avoid walking through deep heather or marshy areas to prevent crushing ground nests or causing parents to abandon their young. If the bird circles and calls shrilly, you are too close; back away slowly.
The hen harrier ( Circus cyaneus ) is a bird of prey. The genus name Circus is derived from Ancient Greek kirkos , meaning 'circle', referring to a bird of prey named for its circling flight. The specific cyaneus is Latin, meaning "dark-blue".
Photo: Gregory "Slobirdr" Smith, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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