Montagu's Harrier
EN

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

UnknownCRNPLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montagu's_harrier

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Montagu's Harrier faces severe population declines primarily due to agricultural intensification across its European breeding range, where mechanized harvesting destroys ground nests before young can fledge. Habitat conversion from traditional mixed farming to intensive monocultures has eliminated the mosaic of grasslands, cereals, and fallow areas essential for hunting small mammals and ground-nesting birds. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering prey availability and shifting suitable breeding conditions northward faster than the species can adapt.

Threat summary

Habitat

Montagu's Harrier breeds in open lowland areas including cereal crops, grasslands, young forestry plantations, and moorland, typically nesting on the ground in dense vegetation. During winter, the species migrates to sub-Saharan Africa where it inhabits savannas, grasslands, and agricultural areas.

TERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Montagu's Harrier classified as Endangered?
Montagu's Harrier is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Montagu's Harrier faces severe population declines primarily due to agricultural intensification across its European breeding range, where mechanized harvesting destroys ground nests before young can fledge. Habitat conversion from traditional mixed farming to intensive monocultures has eliminated the mosaic of grasslands, cereals, and fallow areas essential for hunting small mammals and ground-nesting birds. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering prey availability and shifting suitable breeding conditions northward faster than the species can adapt.
Where does Montagu's Harrier live?
Montagu's Harrier occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Montagu's Harrier?
The main threats to Montagu's Harrier are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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