Montagu's harrier

Montagu's harriers are the smallest and most elegant of the four harriers in the Netherlands. A summer guest that arrives only in late april or may from winter areas in Afrika and returns to Afrika in August or September.  A rare breeder in fields, mainly Groningen. Used to breed in dunes, moorelands and swamps. An intensive protection program prevented the bird to disappear from the Netherlands as breeding bird.

All my pictures can be found here

Field characteristics

Very lean harrier with an elastic flight, almost like a tern. Has only four primaries. Male is dark grey with black wingtips, black stripe on the upside of the wings and bands on the lower side. No white rump. Females and juveniles much smaller than Hen harriers.

Sound:

SInging male and female call.