Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

Gliding gracefully over grasslands and farmland, this elegant raptor is a master of low-altitude hunting and long-distance migration.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

Montagu's Harriers are slender, long-winged raptors with a distinctive owl-like facial disc. Males are predominantly pale grey with black wingtips and a black bar across the secondary feathers. Their underparts are white with fine rufous streaks.

Females are larger and brown, with a white rump and barred tail. Juveniles resemble females but have darker upperparts and a rich orange-buff underside. In flight, all show long, narrow wings and a long tail.

Size

Length

43cm to 47cm

Wingspan

108cm to 120cm

Weight

230g to 445g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Grey Brown

Secondary Colour

White Black

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Yellow

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown

Secondary Colour (Female)

White Buff

Beak Colour (Female)

Black

Leg Colour (Female)

Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Montagu's Harrier is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Montagu's Harrier is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Montagu's Harrier can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Montagu's Harrier is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Montagu's Harrier is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Montagu's Harrier can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Montagu's Harrier can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Montagu's Harrier is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Montagu's Harrier is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Montagu's Harrier is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Montagu's Harrier is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Montagu's Harrier is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Montagu's Harriers prefer open landscapes, including grasslands, steppes, marshes, and agricultural areas. They breed across Europe and parts of Asia, with strongholds in countries like Spain, France, and Russia.

These birds are long-distance migrants, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent. In the UK, they are rare summer visitors, mainly found in Norfolk, Suffolk, and southwest England.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 4,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Montagu's Harrier. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons