Wildlifeof Nepal
Hen Harrier
Birds of Prey
Photo: (c) Vsevolod Rudyi, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0
Circus cyaneus
Basic stats
Diet
Small birds and mammals
Habitat
Open areas such as marshes and grasslands when breeding
Range
Breeds in Eurasia; migrates south outside the breeding season
Clutch size
4–8 whitish eggs
Size
41–52cm; wingspan 97–122cm
Weight
Males 290–400g; females 390–750g
The hen harrier is a bird of prey, 41–52 cm long with a wingspan of 97–122 cm. It is sexually dimorphic: males are smaller, mostly grey and white with black wingtips, at 290–400 g, while females are larger, at 390–750 g, and predominantly brown with buff underparts barred brown. Both have a white rump patch, more noticeable in females and juveniles, which are often called ringtails. It is relatively long winged and long tailed (Wikipedia, general species account).
It breeds in open areas such as marshes and grasslands in Eurasia and is migratory, moving further south outside the breeding season. Four to eight, exceptionally two to ten, whitish eggs are laid. The name refers to its former habit of preying on free-ranging fowl. The female whistles piih-eh when receiving food from the male (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Hen Harrier eat?
- Small birds and mammals
- What habitat does the Hen Harrier live in?
- Open areas such as marshes and grasslands when breeding
- Where is the Hen Harrier found?
- Breeds in Eurasia; migrates south outside the breeding season
- How many eggs does the Hen Harrier lay?
- 4–8 whitish eggs
- How big is the Hen Harrier?
- 41–52cm; wingspan 97–122cm
- How much does the Hen Harrier weigh?
- Males 290–400g; females 390–750g