Hen Harrier

The hen harrier, a species closely associated with heather moorland, is now rare across much of the mainland Scotland due to illegal persecution on grouse moors. However in the absence of human persecution hen harriers flourish on the Uists which support a breeding population of 30-40 pairs.

Like short-eared owls, hen harriers quarter low over the ground. They glide with their long slim wings held in a shallow V and their long tail and white rump distinguish them from owls. Adult male hen harriers have a very different plumage from females and juveniles. With their blue-grey plumage and black wing-tips they are more likely to be confused with a large gull.

In the spring, males are very conspicuous as they display over prospective breeding sites, repeatedly tumbling and rising across the moor.

DIET

Although hen harriers specialise on voles and are often seen as a bird of moorland, the crofted machair grasslands of Uist provide a rich feeding ground where harriers hunt starlings, skylarks, wader chicks, small rabbits and rats.                                                            

WHERE TO LOOK

They breed in areas of rolling moorland and peatland but they are seen throughout the Uists route between their breeding sites on the moorland and feeding grounds on the machair. The Committee road, Ruabhal and Loch Druidibeag are the best trail locations. Due to the absence of voles on Lewis, Harris and Barra, hen harriers are uncommon on these islands.

WHEN TO LOOK
Hen harriers are most visible during the breeding season when they are busy provisioning their young. In the winter some of the Uist population leaves the Archipelago and the birds that remain are most often seen quartering over the moorland edge, croftland and machair.