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Winter Ecology of the Hen Harrier, Circus cyaneus: Bridging Behavioral Insights and Conservation Requirements

Remo Probst,Renate Probst

Published 2025 in Animals

ABSTRACT

Simple Summary The hen harrier is a migratory bird of prey that depends on open grasslands as key winter habitats in Central Europe, where it hunts small mammals, particularly common voles. However, these landscapes are increasingly threatened by agricultural intensification, human disturbance, and soil sealing, which reduce prey availability and limit suitable foraging areas. Through direct field observations, we studied how males, territorial females, and non-territorial females use different strategies to cope with winter conditions. Territorial females defend high-quality habitats and require less energy than non-territorial females due to prolonged periods of sitting without frequent foraging flights, highlighting the advantage of stable access to prey. However, habitat degradation forces behavioral trade-offs, which could impact the survival and conservation of wintering hen harriers. Our findings show how behavioral insights can help improve conservation strategies by preserving prey-rich grasslands and ensuring suitable conditions for territory establishment. Protecting open landscapes is essential not only for hen harriers but also for other grassland-dependent raptors in human-altered environments.

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