Hen Harrier

Cromán na gcearc | Circus cyaneus

The Hen Harrier is nicknamed the “ghost of the moor” as it is most commonly seen quartering over moorland and reed beds in search of prey.

The Hen Harrier is a scarce summer visitor that breeds in Ireland’s conifer forests. They are much more widespread in the winter months when breeding does not occur and can be seen roosting communally in trees along coastal areas. Hen Harriers live for between 4 and 8 years on average, a relatively short life expectancy when compared to other large birds of prey. Sadly, the Hen Harrier is one of the most heavily persecuted of all birds of prey, both in Ireland and further afield. Hence their name, these birds prey on domestic chickens and other similar sized birds, meaning that farmers would shoot and kill them without hesitation. This was particularly common practice around the time of the First World War. Since then, laws against the killing of these birds have been put in place, however illegal shooting and now more often, poisoning threatens to bring these beautiful birds to the brink of extinction. The Hen Harrier is one of the rarest birds on this island.

Hen Harriers are slim birds of prey with long, narrow wings and long, fanshaped tails. The Hen Harrier is the only member of the harrier family that regularly breeds in Ireland, though despite this, is still very rare.

Male and female Hen Harriers look like two different species! The most notable differences are the colouration of their feathers and also their size. Females, known as ‘ringtails’, are substantially longer and ‘bigger’ looking than males, they also have somewhat broader wings and tails and thickerlooking legs and feet. The reason for this is because, in raptors, the female bird takes on the job of hunting for the chicks in the breeding season. She requires more strength and power to successfully seize and carry prey back to the nest. In regards to her plumage, females are a golden-brown colour overall, with a distinctive white rump and undertail. The upper side of their tails are light brown, with darker brown barring. There is similarly coloured barring on their upper wings, contrasting against majority white underwings, with uniform dark brown blotches and thick barring closer to the base of the wing. Both sexes have an owl-like, disc-shaped face, the females is intricately patterned with chestnut-brown streaks and a much darker brown crescent on the rear cheeks. Females tend to have whitish throats and white patches above and below the eye, though this varies between birds. Male hen Harriers are much smaller and lighter-looking than the females. Their plumage is plainer, too, though it is significantly brighter making them more conspicuous. They are majority blue-grey, except for paler breasts, underparts and a small white rump patch. Wing tips are a dark grey which can appear black. Both sexes have distinctive, slender legs and feet which are a greenish-yellow and are equipped with sharply hooked jet black talons, perfect for snatching prey. Their beaks, largely black with a yellow nostril area, are small but sharply hooked to tear flesh with ease. Hen Harriers have striking, forward-facing eyes with piercing yellow irises, giving them quite a scary appearance of when viewed head-on.

During breeding, males give a chattering tchuc-uc-uc call, while females give a very different, high-pitched ke-ke-ke, often when in flight. Hunts silently and stealthily by gliding slowly and low over reed beds and marshes before abruptly swooping down on unsuspecting prey. The hunting behaviour of Hen Harriers is known as ‘quartering.’

The Latin name for the Hen Harrier, from their habit of flying in circles whilst targeting potential victims. The second part of the Latin name, cyaneus, refers to the blueish colour of the male bird. In many countries, Hen Harriers are known as Blue Hawks. In the 18th and 19th centuries in Ireland, there was a belief that the prolonged disappearance of Hen Harriers from their frequented hunting territory meant that evil spirits had overtaken the area.