A slender migratory Eurasian bird of prey, the male having pale grey plumage with black wing tips.
Circus pygargus, family Accipitridae
‘They are soon joined by black storks, lesser kestrels, short-toed eagles, Egyptian vultures, sparrowhawks, red and black kites, marsh and Montagu's harriers, ospreys, buzzards, booted eagles and more.’
‘At Surlingham, for instance, it became scarce very quickly when a pair of Montagu's harriers nested for five years in succession on one of my marshes near the River Yare.’
‘So the juvenile Montagu's harriers have started flying and giving everyone who comes to our viewpoint great views.’
‘We can see the migratory behavior for the Montagu's harrier as he stays in our working area only during the march - august period.’
‘Because the eggs of the Montagu's harrier are highly prized by egg collectors, we've had to keep the nest site a secret.’
Origin
Mid 19th century named after George Montagu (1751–1815), British naturalist.
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