hen harrier

noun

British.

1. northern harrier.

hen harrier

noun

1. US and Canadian names: marsh hawk.  marsh harrier. a common harrier, Circus cyaneus, that flies over fields and marshes and nests in marshes and open land

Word History and Origins

Origin of hen harrier¹

First recorded in 1555–65

Example Sentences

The bog is an important site for biodiversity and is home to the endangered hen harrier.

From BBC

Aside from curlew, they pose a threat to a number of native species including the Orkney vole, short-eared owl and hen harrier.

From BBC

They include endangered birds like hen harriers and water voles, which are now the UK's fastest declining mammal.

From BBC

More than 1,300 protected birds of prey – from hen harriers to golden eagles - have been killed across the UK over the past 15 years, according to the RSPB.

From BBC

The charity said eight, satellite-tagged hen harriers had been illegally killed or suspiciously disappeared from the Yorkshire Dales in the last year.

From BBC