Hen Harrier

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Camargue, Jan 2012

Bird name: Hen Harrier
Latin: Circus cyaneus
Other: Northern Harrier (US, IOC) • Busard Saint-Martin (Fr) • Kornweihe (De) • Aguilucho pálido, Gavilán rastrero (Es) • Albanella reale (It) • Blauwe kiekendief (Nl) • Blå kärrhök (Sv) • Tartaranhão-azulado (Pt)
Family: Accipitridae • Harriers, Birds of Prey
Range: Europe, Asia
Similar: Male Marsh Harrier

Record shots of a female Hen Harrier seen in January in the Camargue, flying low over salt marshes.

The IOC name is Northern Harrier, which also describes the US subspecies; Hen Harrier, Circus cyaneus cyaneus, is the name used in the UK and describes only the Eurasian bird.

Note white band on rump - a good indicator.