Everything about The Hen Harrier totally explained
The
Hen Harrier (
Circus cyaneus) or
Northern Harrier (in
North America) 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 disused 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.
Description
The Hen Harrier is 45-55 cm long with a 97-118 cm wingspan. It resembles other
harriers in having distinct male and female plumages. The sexes also differ in weight, with males weighing an average of 350 g and females an average of 530 g. The male's plumage is darker grey than that of
C. c. cyaneus and the female is also darker and more rufous in colour.
This is a typical harrier, with long wings held in a shallow V in its low, contour-hugging, flight. Hen Harriers hunt small
mammals and
birds, surprising them as they drift low over fields and moors. Because of this they're now very rare and in danger of extinction in the UK.
This problem received a high profile in October 2007 when police investigating the killing of two Hen Harriers on the
Queen's estate at
Sandringham in
Norfolk interviewed
Prince Harry and a friend during their investigation. No charges were brought as police were unable obtain sufficient evidence to prosecute.
Since the assumed threat to Red Grouse is the main reason for the persecution of this species in the UK, a project funded by
Scottish Natural Heritage, the
Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, the
RSPB and
Natural England was launched at Langholm Moor in Scotland from 2007. The Langholm Moor Demonstration Project (LMDP), a 10-year investigation, costing £3 million, is intended to see whether grouse and raptors can live side-by-side harmoniously.
A similar project, the Joint Raptor Study was run on Langholm in the 1990s, and produced some evidence that the two species are unable to flourish simultaneously; at the end of the Joint Raptor Study in 1997, grouse shooting on the moor was abandoned.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Hen Harrier'.
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