Hawks and eagles (Accipitridae)
Where to see them
The hen harrier lives in open areas with low vegetation. In the breeding season UK birds are to be found on the upland heather moorlands of Wales, Northern England, N Ireland and Scotland (as well as the Isle of Man). In winter they move to lowland farmland, heathland, coastal marshes, fenland and river valleys. Those found in eastern and south-east England are probably mostly visitors from mainland Europe.
When to see them
They arrive back on upland breeding areas from late March and stay there until August and September. Away from breeding areas birds can be seen from October to March and Continental birds will join residents in October and November.
What they eat
Mainly small birds and mammals.
|Europe||UK breeding*||UK wintering*||UK passage*|
|-||617 pairs (and 29 on the Isle of Man) in 2010||-||-|