Montagu's Harrier Bird Facts (Circus pygargus)

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

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Passage

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Algeria Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria China Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Ethiopia France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iran Italy Kazakhstan Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Mali Mauritania Moldova Montenegro Morocco Netherlands Oman Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sudan Switzerland Tunisia Turkey Ukraine United Arab Emirates Yemen

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Belarus Finland Kyrgyzstan Russia Sweden Tajikistan The United Kingdom Uzbekistan

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Côte D'Ivoire Democratic Republic of the Congo Djibouti Eritrea Eswatini Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau India Kenya Lesotho Malawi Maldives Mozambique Namibia Nepal Niger Nigeria Pakistan Rwanda Senegal Somalia South Africa South Sudan Sri Lanka Tanzania Togo Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe

Species that pass through the area during migration

Afghanistan Albania Andorra Cyprus Egypt Gibraltar Iraq Israel Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Malta Palestine Qatar Saudi Arabia Spain Syria Turkmenistan Western Sahara

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Bahrain Bangladesh Cape Verde Congo Iceland Ireland Norway Sierra Leone

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

Montagu's Harriers display remarkable agility, evident in their graceful, low flight and spectacular aerial courtship displays. Their ability to perform intricate 'sky-dancing' manoeuvres, including steep climbs and tumbling dives, demonstrates exceptional aerial prowess.

Strength 60

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Whilst not the most powerful raptors, Montagu's Harriers possess adequate strength for their size. They can carry small prey and engage in aerial food passes during courtship, indicating moderate strength relative to their slender build.

Adaptability 80

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

These harriers show high adaptability, thriving in various open landscapes from grasslands to agricultural areas. Their diet flexibility, adjusting to local prey availability, and ability to nest in different ground vegetation types further highlight their adaptable nature.

Aggressiveness 65

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Montagu's Harriers exhibit moderate aggressiveness. They are skilled hunters, capable of taking a variety of prey, but are not known for excessive aggression. Their hunting style relies more on surprise and agility than brute force.

Endurance 90

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The endurance of Montagu's Harriers is impressive, particularly evident in their long-distance migrations. Capable of flying up to 5,000 km (3,100 miles) between Europe and Africa annually, they demonstrate remarkable stamina. Their hunting technique of quartering fields for extended periods also indicates high endurance.

Diet

Montagu's Harriers are versatile predators, primarily feeding on small mammals, especially voles and rabbits. They also catch small birds, reptiles, and large insects.

Their diet varies seasonally and geographically, adapting to local prey availability. They often hunt by surprise, snatching prey from the ground after a short hover.

Behaviour

Montagu's Harriers are known for their graceful, low flight over open country. They often hunt by quartering fields with slow, buoyant wingbeats, suddenly dropping onto prey.

During the breeding season, males perform spectacular 'sky-dancing' displays involving steep climbs and tumbling dives to attract mates.

Vocalisation

Montagu's Harriers are generally quiet outside the breeding season. During breeding, they become more vocal, with males producing a rapid 'kek-kek-kek' call during courtship displays. Females may respond with a softer 'pee-ep' sound. When alarmed, both sexes emit a sharp, high-pitched 'kik' call.

Nesting & Breeding

Breeding begins in late April to May. Males perform elaborate aerial displays to attract females, including spectacular sky dances and food passes in mid-air.

Nests are built on the ground, typically in dense vegetation or crops. The female constructs a simple platform of grass and stems. She lays 3-5 pale blue eggs, sometimes speckled with brown.

Incubation lasts about 28-29 days, and it is primarily done by the female while the male provides food. Chicks fledge after 35-40 days but remain dependent on their parents for several more weeks.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

Despite being listed as Least Concern globally, Montagu's Harriers face threats from agricultural intensification and habitat loss.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting cropland nesting sites and maintaining suitable hunting habitats. In some areas, nest protection schemes involve cooperation with farmers.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

300,000 to 550,000 mature individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Ash-colored Harrier

Family:

Accipitridae

Average Lifespan

6 to 16 years

Predators

Adult Montagu's Harriers have few natural predators, but eggs and chicks are vulnerable to foxes, badgers, and other ground predators. Large raptors may occasionally prey on juveniles.

Did You Know?

Montagu's Harriers are named after George Montagu, a British naturalist who first distinguished the species from the similar Hen Harrier.
They are one of the few raptor species that are sexually dimorphic in plumage as well as size.
These birds can fly up to 5,000 km (3,100 miles) during their annual migration between Europe and Africa.

FAQs

Why is it called a Montagu’s Harrier?

Montagu’s harrier is named after a famous British naturalist who was the first to identify the bird within the United Kingdom. Born in the County of Wiltshire, England, in 1753, George Montagu joined the British army at 17 and rose to the rank of Colonel.

Upon his retirement from the army, he concentrated on his passion as a naturalist and ornithologist. He died in 1815.

The common names of several species of animal are directly attributed to him and bear his name, including blenny, ray, sucker, sea snail and, of course, the Montagu’s harrier.