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Hen Harrier

Circus cyaneus
Accipitridae Low risk

The hen harrier is a bird of prey. It breeds in open areas such as marshes and grasslands in Eurasia and is migratory, moving further south outside of the breeding season. Birds in milder regions, such as France and Great Britain, may be resident year-round, but the higher altitudes are largely deserted in winter. The species is sexually dimorphic; males are smaller and mostly grey and white with black wingtips, whereas females average larger and are predominantly brown and have buff underparts with brown barring. Both sexes have a white rump patch, although it is more noticeable on females and juveniles.

Summary from Wikipedia

Listen begging call, flight call · CC BY-SA
0:00 / 0:00
Benoît Van Hecke · xeno-canto 558933

In Türkiye

Seasonal status
Winter visitor

Arrives in autumn and leaves in spring; summer records are almost absent.

Most records in November–February.

Where it stands out
ZonguldakTekirdağAmasyaBurdurEskişehir

Provinces where it makes up the largest share of bird records.

Records by month

Adjusted for how many birdwatchers are out each month; the busiest month = 100%.

5,518 records from Türkiye · #159 of 634 species by number of records. Source: GBIF.org (October 2026). All birds of Türkiye

At a glance

Family
Accipitridae
Group
Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies
Conservation status
Low risk

The male hen harrier is a ghostly pale grey-white, quartering low over meadows and reeds with wings held in a V.

Similar birds

All birds

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