Marsh Harrier vs Hen Harrier: How to Tell Them Apart

This is an elegant raptor, similar in size to the Buzzard but a little more slender; it's the largest European Harrier. Its wings are lengthy and wide, its legs and tail are long; the sexes are dissimilar. Male birds are reddish-brown with a blue-grey head that's streaked with dark brown. The tail is grey and the wings are a combination of three colours - brown with black tips and big grey patches. The female is larger and is mostly dark brown; she has a pale head, chin and leading edge on the wings, and her tail is red-tinged at close range. Juvenile birds are similar to females but they usually don't have the pale marks on wings, nor the pale head.

Most commonly found in wetlands with an abundance of reedbeds and marshes. It usually breeds in the reedbeds, but recently has expanded habitat to include arable fields. Most birds of the region breed in eastern Britain, particularly in East Anglia and Kent.

Displaying birds may have a whining call: kweooo.

Smaller than the Buzzard, this is a distinctive raptor with a long tail and long wings with finger-like ends. Males and females are different. The male has silvery blue-grey upperparts, he has white underparts, a white rump, and dark tips and trailing edge on his wings. The female is larger than the male and is mostly brown; the barring on her wings and tail is more obvious, her underparts and breast are streaked, her tail is grey-brown and she has a distinct white rump. The arrangement of her feathers makes her face resemble an owl's. Juvenile birds are like female adults but their breast and the underside of their wings are a reddish brown.

When breeding, favours upland heather moors and can also nest in conifer; breeds in Scotland, parts of northern England, Isle of Man, North Wales and Ireland. In winter its habitat is more varied and includes farms, river valleys and coastal marshes.

Usually a quiet bird, but male makes a quick yikkering sound during his display ritual.