Montagu's Harrier
The Montagu's Harrier is a migratory bird of prey of the harrier family. Its common name commemorates the British naturalist George Montagu.
Sexual dimorphism is particularly apparent in the plumage of the Montagu's Harrier. Adult males are characterized by their overall pale grey plumage contrasting with black wingtips. Compared with other harriers, the Montagu's Harrier has characteristic black bands along the secondaries both above and below the wing and rusty streaks on the belly and flanks. Adult females have a broadly similar plumage to that of Pallid and Hen Harriers. The underparts are mostly pale yellow-brown and the upperparts are uniform dark brown except for the white “rump”. A melanistic form occurs regularly in this species. In this form the male is much darker than usual with a black head, brownish black above and grey underparts. The melanistic female is entirely chocolate brown except for grey flight feathers.
The Montagu's Harrier has a particularly graceful flight with powerful and elegant wingbeats which give an impression of buoyancy and ease. In true harrier fashion it searches the countryside flying low and generally holds its wings with a marked upward angle.
The Montagu's Harrier can still be found throughout most of the Western Palearctic. In most European countries there is at least a small population except in Norway where it is not present. The breeding range extends as far east as the Urals whereas the most western population is that of Portugal. Breeding also occurs in north Africa, mostly in Morocco. In the UK the Montagu's Harrier is a rare breeding bird limited to southern England: the area surrounding The Wash in Norfolk and Lincolnshire and downland areas from Dorset and Hampshire north to Oxfordshire. Despite having a wide distribution, this bird is not common in many areas and has strong populations only in France, Spain, Russia, Belarus and Poland where the greater part of the European population can be found.
The Montagu's Harrier is a long distance migrant. Birds from Eurasia spend the winter in sub-Saharan Africa while those from the eastern part of the range migrate to the Indian subcontinent. In Europe, the first birds start to move at the beginning of August and most have left by mid-October. Spring return peaks in April and most birds have arrived by May.
The Montagu's Harrier is essentially a lowland species which nests mostly in broad river valleys, plains and levels bordering lakes and the sea. It can breed in wetlands, though these are often smaller and dryer than those used by the Marsh Harrier. It also utilizes heaths, dunes, moors and steppe and adapts to shrublands in gorse or heather and to areas planted with young conifers. When no other suitable habitat is available the Montagu's Harrier will nest in agricultural farmlands where it is vulnerable to early harvesting. Amongst these it chooses especially grasslands and cereal crops.
In short, the Montagu's Harrier requires a large open area with sufficiently tall ground vegetation to afford cover without being overgrown. It favours posts on which both male and female can rest and survey the breeding area: these can be fence posts, small trees, or rocky outcrops. When hunting, in any season, it prefers areas of low or sparse vegetation where prey is more visible. Densely settled areas are generally avoided and it is highly susceptible to disturbance.
In western Europe an estimated 70% of breeding pairs nest in agricultural farmlands, especially cereal crops. This makes the Montagu's Harrier a very vulnerable species and very dependent on nest protection schemes. Bird protection non-governmental organizations participate in their protection in collaboration with concerned landowners. Once a nest is spotted in a field, it can be safeguarded either by relocating it to a safer area or by creating a protected space which will not be harvested. In France and in the Iberian peninsula, an average 60% of nestlings are saved by these kind of measures.
Date: 29th April 2012
Location: Santa Marta de Magasca to Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain
Sexual dimorphism is particularly apparent in the plumage of the Montagu's Harrier. Adult males are characterized by their overall pale grey plumage contrasting with black wingtips. Compared with other harriers, the Montagu's Harrier has characteristic black bands along the secondaries both above and below the wing and rusty streaks on the belly and flanks. Adult females have a broadly similar plumage to that of Pallid and Hen Harriers. The underparts are mostly pale yellow-brown and the upperparts are uniform dark brown except for the white “rump”. A melanistic form occurs regularly in this species. In this form the male is much darker than usual with a black head, brownish black above and grey underparts. The melanistic female is entirely chocolate brown except for grey flight feathers.
The Montagu's Harrier has a particularly graceful flight with powerful and elegant wingbeats which give an impression of buoyancy and ease. In true harrier fashion it searches the countryside flying low and generally holds its wings with a marked upward angle.
The Montagu's Harrier can still be found throughout most of the Western Palearctic. In most European countries there is at least a small population except in Norway where it is not present. The breeding range extends as far east as the Urals whereas the most western population is that of Portugal. Breeding also occurs in north Africa, mostly in Morocco. In the UK the Montagu's Harrier is a rare breeding bird limited to southern England: the area surrounding The Wash in Norfolk and Lincolnshire and downland areas from Dorset and Hampshire north to Oxfordshire. Despite having a wide distribution, this bird is not common in many areas and has strong populations only in France, Spain, Russia, Belarus and Poland where the greater part of the European population can be found.
The Montagu's Harrier is a long distance migrant. Birds from Eurasia spend the winter in sub-Saharan Africa while those from the eastern part of the range migrate to the Indian subcontinent. In Europe, the first birds start to move at the beginning of August and most have left by mid-October. Spring return peaks in April and most birds have arrived by May.
The Montagu's Harrier is essentially a lowland species which nests mostly in broad river valleys, plains and levels bordering lakes and the sea. It can breed in wetlands, though these are often smaller and dryer than those used by the Marsh Harrier. It also utilizes heaths, dunes, moors and steppe and adapts to shrublands in gorse or heather and to areas planted with young conifers. When no other suitable habitat is available the Montagu's Harrier will nest in agricultural farmlands where it is vulnerable to early harvesting. Amongst these it chooses especially grasslands and cereal crops.
In short, the Montagu's Harrier requires a large open area with sufficiently tall ground vegetation to afford cover without being overgrown. It favours posts on which both male and female can rest and survey the breeding area: these can be fence posts, small trees, or rocky outcrops. When hunting, in any season, it prefers areas of low or sparse vegetation where prey is more visible. Densely settled areas are generally avoided and it is highly susceptible to disturbance.
In western Europe an estimated 70% of breeding pairs nest in agricultural farmlands, especially cereal crops. This makes the Montagu's Harrier a very vulnerable species and very dependent on nest protection schemes. Bird protection non-governmental organizations participate in their protection in collaboration with concerned landowners. Once a nest is spotted in a field, it can be safeguarded either by relocating it to a safer area or by creating a protected space which will not be harvested. In France and in the Iberian peninsula, an average 60% of nestlings are saved by these kind of measures.
Date: 29th April 2012
Location: Santa Marta de Magasca to Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain
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Also in: South and west Spain - April and May 2012
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