Bird Guide

Hen Harrier vs Montagu's Harrier

Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)

Hen Harrier

Circus cyaneus

Large393 gGrassland

The hen harrier is 41–52 cm (16–20 in) long with a 97–122 cm (38–48 in) wingspan. It resembles other harriers in having distinct male and female plumages. The sexes also differ in weight, with males weighing 290 to 400 g (10 to 14 oz), with an average of 350 g (12 oz), and females weighing 390 to 750 g (14 to 26 oz), with an average of 530 g (19 oz). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 32.8 to 40.6 cm (12.9 to 16.0 in), the tail is 19.3 to 25.8 cm (7.6 to 10.2 in) and the tarsus is 7.1 to 8.9 cm (2.8 to 3.5 in). It is relatively long winged and long tailed.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Benoît Van Hecke · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Александр Чегодаев · CC0
Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus)

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

Large311 gGrassland

Sexual dimorphism is particularly apparent in the plumage of this species. Adult males are characterized by their overall pale grey plumage contrasting with black wingtips. Compared with other harriers this species has characteristic black bands along the secondaries, both above and below the wing and rusty streaks on belly and flanks. Adult females have a broadly similar plumage to that of pallid and hen harriers. The underparts are mostly pale yellow-brown, the belly with longitudinal stripes and the wing coverts spotted.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: (c) Вячеслав Юсупов, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Вячеслав Юсупов · cc-by

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Hen Harrier and Montagu's Harrier.