Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), male
Hen Harrier, Male

Hen Harrier

Circus cyaneus

The Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), a bird of prey with a penchant for open landscapes, is a captivating sight. Males are predominantly grey with black wingtips and a white rump, while females and juveniles, often referred to as "ringtails," display a brown plumage with white upper tail coverts and buff streaks below.

Identification Tips

To identify the Hen Harrier, look for its long wings and tail, which are characteristic of the species. Males weigh between 290 to 400 grams, and females are heftier, ranging from 390 to 750 grams. When in flight, observe their wings held in a shallow V-shape, a distinctive hunting posture.

Habitat

Hen Harriers thrive in a variety of open areas, including moorland, bogs, prairies, farmland, coastal prairies, marshes, grasslands, and swamps. They are adaptable birds, often found in young commercial forests before the canopy becomes too dense.

Distribution

These birds breed across Eurasia and migrate southward in winter. Some populations, such as those in France and Great Britain, may remain year-round, while others seek milder climates in southern Europe and Asia.

Behaviour

Hen Harriers are known for their polygynous mating system, where one male may pair with several females. They build ground nests lined with grass and leaves, and the female incubates the eggs, relying on the male for food provision.

Song & Calls

The female Hen Harrier emits a whistled "piih-eh" during food transfers, and her alarm call is a rapid "chit-it-it-it-it-et-it." The male's call is a "chek-chek-chek," which becomes a bouncing "chuk-uk-uk-uk" during his display flight.

Breeding

The Hen Harrier lays four to eight whitish eggs, which are incubated for about 31 to 32 days. Chicks fledge at approximately 36 days old, but they do not reach breeding maturity until they are two to three years of age.

Similar Species

The Hen Harrier can be confused with the Short-eared Owl, as they share similar habitats and prey. However, the Hen Harrier can be distinguished by its flight pattern and distinct male and female plumages.

Diet and Feeding

These raptors primarily feed on small mammals, making up to 95% of their diet. They also consume birds, particularly those in open country, as well as amphibians, reptiles, and insects when available.

Conservation status

The Hen Harrier is classified as "Least Concern" globally, although there are concerns about population declines in specific regions such as Britain and Ireland, primarily due to habitat loss and illegal persecution.

In the voice of the natural world, we observe the Hen Harrier, a master of the open skies, whose presence graces the landscapes of Eurasia with a silent and watchful elegance.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Hen Harriers on Birda

Photos
Sightings
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
SuperOliviaGirl
Really great app
It’s easy to use and it’s fun to log the birds you notice on a walk or just in your garden. There’s a option to record the birds you see in a session which is really nice. Good excuse to stop for a while and just watch birds. I am also enjoying the information part where you can find out fact about birds from all over the world.
Robred 2
Fun way to add to your birdwatching experience
I enjoy watching birds in my backyard, but this app helped me really pay attention while on vacation this summer. It was fun to add new birds to my bird watching app.
Viperray5
Loving it
I really enjoy being able to interact with other birders on this platform! This seems like a great way to meet other birders and find some new spots.
Erna M
I really like Birda
I really like Birda. I also use other birding apps and have Birda with E-bird going at the same time.
David C
Very knowledgeable group
Nice friendly birding community. Very knowledgeable group with a willingness to help.
Foxgirl100
Great app for beginner twitchers
I’ve had a passion of photographing birds for a long time now but have only just gotten into proper birdwatching, and this app is brilliant for those just getting started. There is a great sense of community among users and the app is very easy to use and professional. Awesome app altogether
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
D3Nature
Great app for learning Birds
I’ve been using the app for a couple of months and love it....Someone said it’s like a real life Pokémon Go for birds. They’re not far off! It’s something that the family can do that gets you out and about. Well worth downloading no matter your age.
Unbridled Discoveries
Great app for bird lovers
I love this app! It’s a wonderful way to track birding sessions, and also connect you with fellow birders. I also really like the unidentified bird section, it’s a great community tool to help figure out what a never-before-seen bird is!
Alice J
Awesome Birding Community
I absolutely love the community aspect of this app. The app is so user friendly and has fun interactive challenges to get you out birding. I’ve tried others but since I’ve started using Birda I’ve not gone back!
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.