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Species › Birds

Montagu´s Harrier

Circus pygargus

Order
Accipitriformes
Family
Accipitridae
Presence in the Strait
Seasonal
Abundance
common
Protection in Spain
Vulnerable · Andalusian Catalogue
In Spanish
Aguilucho cenizo

40% of its open observations in the area are from September.

Photograph: Вячеслав Юсупов, CC BY, vía iNaturalist

Length
43–50 cm
Wingspan
98–110 cm
Weight
275–375 g
050100LENGTH43–50 cmWINGSPAN98–110 cmcentimetres

Presence in the Strait

Common summer visitor to grassland and dry farmlands (47 pairs in 1995).

Identification

It can be confused with the Hen Harrier, but there are times of the year when they do not coincide in the area (see phenological table). Male is ash-grey with black wing tips and central wing bands. Female is dark brown, difficult to distinguish from the female Hen Harrier, but has narrower wings, less white on rump and a more contrasting face pattern. Juveniles are female-like but darker with chestnut underparts.

Movements

Migrant (>600 birds post. migr.) with peaks in 1st hf. April and 2nd hf. August.

Ring recoveries

Spain (2). Accipitridae parte superior parte inferior upperpart underpart Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental parte superior parte inferior upperpart underpart Aguilucho Pálido parte superior parte inferior upperpart underpart Aguilucho Cenizo

Bioestrecho editorial text. Last revised: 8 September 2026.

Gallery

Photographs from iNaturalist observations with the licence checked file by file. Those marked “Strait” were taken within the area; place and date are those of each observation.