Wildlifeof Bhutan
Hen Harrier
Birds of Prey
Photo: (c) Vsevolod Rudyi, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Circus cyaneus
Basic stats
Diet
Primarily small mammals
Habitat
Breeds on moorland, bogs, farmland, marshes, grassland and swamps
Range
Breeds in Eurasia; migratory
Size
41–52cm
Wingspan
97–122cm
Weight
Males 290–400g; females 390–750g
The hen harrier is a bird of prey 41 to 52cm long with a wingspan of 97 to 122cm. The sexes differ: males, at 290 to 400g, are mostly grey and white with black wingtips, while females, at 390 to 750g, are predominantly brown with buff underparts barred brown. Both have a white rump patch, more noticeable on females and juveniles, which are often called ringtails (Wikipedia, general species account).
It breeds in open areas such as moorland, bogs, farmland, marshes and grasslands in Eurasia and is migratory, moving south outside the breeding season. It hunts primarily small mammals. The male's calls are a 'chek-chek-chek' and a bouncing 'chuk-uk-uk' in display flight. The sources read give nothing specific to Bhutan.
Quick answers
- What does the Hen Harrier eat?
- Primarily small mammals
- What habitat does the Hen Harrier live in?
- Breeds on moorland, bogs, farmland, marshes, grassland and swamps
- Where is the Hen Harrier found?
- Breeds in Eurasia; migratory
- How big is the Hen Harrier?
- 41–52cm
- What is the wingspan of the Hen Harrier?
- 97–122cm
- How much does the Hen Harrier weigh?
- Males 290–400g; females 390–750g