Wildlife
Hen harriers are almost owl-like in their facial appearance, which distinguishes them from other hawks. The face shape helps the harriers to detect small mammals and birds concealed in vegetation, as they rely on sound as well as sight to pinpoint prey. During the breeding season, males perform a spectacular sky dance, with a series of steep climbs, twists and rolls. Hen harriers exhibit a degree of polygyny, nesting in loose colonies, with males simultaneously raising several broods with as many as seven females.
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Hunting ground
Agricultural oases in the desert are a haven for migrating song birds and birds of prey.
Agricultural oases in the desert are a haven for migrating song birds and rich pickings for hunting birds of prey.
Hen harriers in the wild
Warden Rhys Gwyn takes us to the best spot for one of Britain's rarest birds.
Warden Rhys Gwyn takes us to the best spot for finding hen harriers - one of Britain's rarest birds.
Twites and a harrier
Chris Packham watches a flock of twites and a hungry hen harrier.
Chris Packham watches a flock of twites and a hungry hen harrier.
Spot the difference
How to tell the difference between a male and female hen harrier.
How to tell the difference between a male and female hen harrier.
Rare raptor
Orkney famous and very rare hen harriers.
Orkney famous and very rare hen harriers.
Species range provided by WWF's Wildfinder.
The Hen harrier can be found in a number of locations including: Africa, Asia, China, Europe, Indian subcontinent, Mediterranean, North America, Russia, South America, United Kingdom, Wales, Ynys-hir nature reserve. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Hen harrier distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Least Concern
Year assessed: 2009
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) or Northern Harrier (in the Americas) is a bird of prey. It breeds throughout the northern parts of the northern hemisphere in Canada and the northernmost USA, and in northern Eurasia. This species is polytypic, with two subspecies. Marsh Hawk is a historical name for the American form.
It migrates to more southerly areas in winter. Eurasian birds move to southern Europe and southern temperate Asia, and American breeders to the southernmost USA, Mexico, and Central America. In the mildest regions, such as France, Great Britain, and the southern US, Hen Harriers may be present all year, but the higher ground is largely deserted in winter.
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Farmland
Estuaries
Marsh
Wildflower meadow
Moorland
Temperate grassland
Wetlands
Paternal care
Helpless young
Migration
Carnivorous
Colonial
Courtship display
Adapted to flying
Adapted to gliding
Acoustic communication
Food storage
Maternal care
Monogamous
Egg layer
Polygynous
Predator
Territorial