Species:

Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)

Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

Change species:
Main Images:
Length (cm):
44-52
27-30
Wingspan (cm):
100-120
71-83
Weight (gram):
300-600
190-280
Size group:
Crow-size
Thrush-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

In all plumages: Glides with wings raised in shallow V. Shows 5 primaries. This makes the wing tip broader than in Pallid- and Montague's Harriers, and the wings seems shorter. (Note that moulting individuals may show only 4 primaries). Male; grey with black primaries, white rump and underparts, and broad black trailing edge to underwing. Note that subadult males may show partly black primaries like Pallid. Female; brown with white rump, barred tail and streaked underparts.

Sound:

Mostly heard at breeding ground. Calls with quite soft series of "ke-ke-ke-ke". Also a wailing, squealing whistle, with emphasized first syllable.

Contact call:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Sounds:Creative Commons,www.xeno-canto.org,Bruno Durand,http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

Appearance:

Summer plumage unmistakable, with black underparts framed in white, with white and grey-speckled upperparts. Diagnostic in all plumages are the black armpits, which are clearly visible in flying birds. Also shows white wing-bars and very pale tail, with some barring. Winter-plumaged and juvenile birds speckled in grey with white underparts. Can be mistaken for Golden Plover. Especially the juveniles, which may have faint golden tone to plumage. Note instead heavier bill with swollen tip and bulkier body.

Sound:

Contact call diagnostic. A plaintive, drawn and trisyllabic (but continuous) "kleeooowee". Pitch falls on second syllable and rises on last.

Contact call:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-photo:bathyporeia, Licence,Link.CC-sound:Paul Marvin, Licence,Link.

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Raptors
Silhouette
Waders
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file