Scientific name: Circus pygargus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bird group: Birds-of-prey
Field characters. Length 43-47 cm; wingspan 98-110 cm. Smaller and slimmer than Hen Harrier, with narrower and more pointed wings and more agile flight. Male ash-grey above with darker crown, cheeks, back, and inner wing. Upper wing with pale inner primaries, primary coverts, and outer secondaries, contrasting with black outer primaries and dark grey inner wing and back. Rump and tail pale grey. Upperwing with dark bar across base of secondaries and underwing with 1-2 bars. Female and juvenile very similar to Pallid Harrier; see Hen Harrier and Pallid Harrier for differences.
Voice. In the breeding area, produces a chattering note like "yick-yick-yick".
Distribution. Rather rare summer visitor.
Habitat. In the breeding season, occurs in marshes, dry moors, sand-dunes, heaths, peatbogs, also in young conifer stands and cornfields. Avoids disturbed areas.
Food. Hunts by flying fixed routes, catching prey with sudden pounce. Feeds mainly on small ground-living animals such as songbirds, rodents, lizards and insects.
Eggs. Usually uniform, rarely with fine, red-brown spots or streaks. Ground colour bluish white. Texture smooth/fine granular, not glossy. Shape subelliptical/short subelliptical. Size 42 x 33 mm (36-46 x 30-36), weight 25 g (20-28). Closely similar to those of Hen Harrier.