This species has a large range. Both parents attack potential predators with alarm calls and striking with talons. [7] Harriers hunt by surprising prey while flying low to the ground in open areas, as they drift low over fields and moors. The nests are made from heather stems and rushes and are lined with grasses. Northern or hen harriers hunt primarily small mammals, as do most harriers. Early mortality mainly results from predation. Hen Harriers are one of the birds that is absolutely distinctive of upland habitats but, sadly, it is also one of our most threatened. Preferred avian prey include passerines of open country (i.e. In the mildest regions, such as France and Great Britain, hen harriers may be present all year, but the higher ground is largely deserted in winter. These grasslands are called semi-natural grasslands. [7] This harrier tends to be a very vocal bird while it glides over its hunting ground. These may have been reseeded over a decade ago and not heavily fertilized since, the species-richness of these grasslands may be higher. The quality of these grasslands can vary greatly from farm to farm and even within a farm. [14] In 2012 only 617 pairs remained, representing a fall of 20% from 2004. Predators of eggs and nestlings include raccoons, skunks, badgers, foxes, crows and ravens, dogs and owls. The Forest of Bowland in rural Lancashire supports one of the largest populations of hen harriers in England. This footage was obtained under a licence provided by Natural England. species-rich plant communities. Eurasian birds move to southern Europe and southern temperate Asia. It is therefore classified as "least concern". The hen harrier is vulnerable to habitat change, egg/nest predation and persecution. The hen harrier faces many threats. The upland and marginal farmland in these SPAs are of high conservation value, many comprising protected habitats and supporting threatened bird and animal species. A male will maintain a territory averaging 2.6 km (1.0 sq mi), though male territories have ranged from 1.7 to 150 km (0.66 to 57.92 sq mi). Acid grasslands are the typical hill pastures found on free draining nutrient deficient acid soils that are not waterlogged and characterised by vegetation dominated by grasses and herbs. Around five per cent of the UK’s harrier population lives on the Isle of Man. This medium-sized raptor breeds on moorland, bogs, prairies, farmland coastal prairies, marshes, grasslands, swamps and other assorted open areas. [5] The harriers circle an area several times listening and looking for prey. Hen harrier, also known as northern harrier, is a bird of prey that belongs to the family of hawks. Patches of woods and scrub are very common on Irish farms. The island’s interior of sparsely populated heather-clad hills offers the ideal habitat for the harriers’ principal prey species. A field guide to the birds of Korea. It can be found in the northern parts of North America, Europe and Asia. Hen harrier inhabits grasslands, marshes, pastures, woodlands, coastal areas, river valleys and semi-deserts. [7] It is relatively long winged and long tailed. These fields have an area of 45,782 ha (about half the size of Co. Louth so this is a mammoth task. Hen harrier distribution. The chicks fledge at around 36 days old, though breeding maturity is not reached until 2 years in females and 3 years in males. These grasslands are called semi-natural grasslands. Disturbance of these species may only by undertaken by licensed individuals. These, are the one of the few raptorial birds known to practice polygyny – one male mates with several females. Short-eared owls are natural competitors of this species that favor the same prey and habitat, as well as having a similarly broad distribution. Registered Office: Unit 2, Oran Point, Main Street, Oranmore, Co. Galway. [15][16] Hen harriers nest and forage in commercial forestry when it is young, before the canopy closes (typically at between 9–12 and years old), but do not make much use of thicket and subsequent growth stages,[17][18] which typically comprise between 2⁄3 and 3⁄4 of the commercial growth cycle. The longest-lived known bird is 16 years and 5 months. Occasionally, both harriers and short-eared owls will harass each other until the victim drops its prey and it can be stolen, a practice known as kleptoparasitism. Dry heath may occur over calcareous or siliceous soils. [7] The species has been observed to hunt bats if these are available. The hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) is a bird of prey. Hen harriers usually nest on the ground in tall heather or in young forestry plantations. This scrub can be very important hunting grounds for Hen Harrier and may be nesting sites also. These grasslands often have Cuckoo Flower, Ribwort Plantain and more grasses than just Perennial Ryegrass. In some parts of Europe people believed that seeing a harrier perched on a house was a sign that three people would die. The hen harrier nests on the ground among the heather of upland moorlands. [5][7] 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). [12] Larger prey, such as rabbits and adult ducks are taken sometimes and harriers have been known to subdue these by drowning them in water. These fields have an area of 45,782 ha (about half the size of Co. Louth so this is a mammoth task. The specific cyaneus is Latin, meaning "dark-blue". These can be privately owned or commonage. Some woodlands may be grazed by livestock or used for shelter during the winter. It winters in the lowlands, particularly around the coast, on heathland and on farmland. The traditional nesting habitat of Hen Harrier across Britain and Ireland has been predominantly Heather. sparrows, larks, pipits), small shorebirds and the young of waterfowl and galliforms. The hen harrier is 41–52 cm (16–20 in)[5] long with a 97–122 cm (38–48 in) wingspan. The majority of these grasslands have never been reseeded and donât receive fertilizer other than grazing animal inputs. The Hen Harrier is a ground nesting bird adapted to open moorland and marginal grassland habitats. [19] However, where afforestation takes place in areas that were previously underutilised by hen harriers, it may increase the value of such areas to this species in the long-term. These are the most important sources of plant and animal biodiversity. Nests are made of sticks and are lined inside with grass and leaves. Up to 95% of the diet comprises small mammals.However, birds are hunted with some regularity as well, especially by males. The Hen Harrier’s Habitat. Hen harrier inhabits grasslands, marshes, pastures, woodlands, coastal areas, river valleys and semi-deserts. The hen harrier is one of our most charismatic birds, but is becoming increasingly rare. [1] In the United Kingdom, however, hen harrier populations are in a critical condition, due to habitat loss and illegal killing on grouse moors. Wet grasslands are particularly susceptible to poaching, especially if the weather conditions are wet. 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). However, in the United Kingdom, however, Hen harrier populations are in a critical condition, due to habitat loss and illegal killing on grouse moors ( the hunting of the red grouse, a field sport of the United Kingdom.) There is now an accepted record of transatlantic vagrancy by the northern harrier, with a juvenile being recorded in Scilly, Great Britain from October 1982 to June 1983.[11]. Harried to the edge of extinction in England, hen harriers need your help, before it's too late. This produced a contemporary geospatially digitised habitat … They have a very low plant species-richness, few flowers and have a very green appearance. Little information is available on longevity in hen harriers. Four to eight (exceptionally 2 to 10) whitish eggs are laid. Furthermore, research shows that although pre-thicket coniferous forests are becoming increasingly important landscapes for hen harrier the habitat is sub-optimal for the species and may negatively impact breeding success. To minimise negative impacts on the species, sensitive planning and management of commercial forestry must be put in place. Peatland habitats are also very common throughout the SPAs. They are very widespread but often occur in small patches. Hen Harrier Special Protection Area (SPA) Habitat Map. Most commonly, the harriers are the aggressors pirating prey from owls.[13]. They may be dry (with Oak, Ash, Birch or Hazel), wet (dominated by Willows, Oak, Ash or Alder), riparian (along a river), or bog woodland (on peatland). Hedgerows and earth banks are particularly important habitats for small bird, insects and flowers and are an important food source for Hen Harrier. The genus name Circus is derived from Ancient Greek kirkos 'circle', referring to a bird of prey named for its circling flight.