Hen harrier

Hen harriers are rare residents in the North of the Netherlands while the rest of us must do with winter visits. Hen harriers live in open, humid areas: dunes, swamps, fields and meadows. Striking in all plumages is the white rump that in flight is very distinctive from a Marsh harrier. They eat small mamals and rodents. Also small birds are ocasional preys.

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Field characteristics

Like the Marsh harrier the Hen harrier has five primaries of 'fingers'. That makes the wings look less long and look broader than the wings of a Montague harrier or Pallid harrier. Females are brown with characteristical white rump, while males are beautiful blue-ish grey with a white belly. Furthermore males can be distinguished from Montague harriers by the lack of a black stripe on the upperwings.

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