Photo: Kositoes / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Hen Harrier
Circus cyaneus
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) — Birds of Prey of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 11 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 393 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Circus
- Species cyaneus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 393 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Hen Harrier preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Hen Harrier is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL Europe and c, n Asia.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 393 g, with a wing length of about 35.2 cm and a tail of around 13.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 17.3 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Hen Harrier?
The Hen Harrier is a large bird that weighs around 393 g.
Where does the Hen Harrier live?
The Hen Harrier is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL Europe and c, n Asia, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Hen Harrier belong to?
The Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Hen Harrier eat?
The Hen Harrier preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Hen Harrier migrate?
The Hen Harrier is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Hen Harrier endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Hen Harrier make?
1 real field recording of the Hen Harrier — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Hen Harrier's range?
The Hen Harrier has a mapped global range of about 17.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.