Birds
Hen Harrier
Circus cyaneus · Erete vânăt
A winter harrier of open fields, hunting low over stubble and grassland.
At a glance
- Status in Romania
- Winter visitor
- Habitat
- Meadow / Wetland
- Activity
- Morning · Daytime · Evening
- Diet
- Mainly small mammals and small birds.
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN)
- Photography difficulty
- Difficult
Identification
Males are pale grey with black wingtips; females and young are brown with a white rump and barred tail ('ringtails').
Habitat
In winter, open lowland areas such as farmland, grassland and marsh edges.
Distribution
In winter, present across the whole country but more frequent in the lowlands.
Approximate range in Romania
When it is active
Morning · Daytime · Evening
Diet
Mainly small mammals and small birds.
Behaviour
Hunts with low, quartering flight; may roost communally on the ground in winter.
Seasonality in Romania
Does not breed in Romania. Northern birds winter here, mainly from October to March or early April.
- JanPresent
- FebPresent
- MarPresent
- AprUnknown
- MayUnknown
- JunUnknown
- JulUnknown
- AugUnknown
- SepUnknown
- OctPresent
- NovPresent
- DecPresent
Source-verified months inform the seasonal filters. Local timing can vary. Unconfirmed months do not imply absence. * Event timing retained from the earlier entry, not yet source-verified.
How to find it
Open farmland and marsh edges in the lowlands in winter, often late in the afternoon.
Photography
General guidance based on the species’ behaviour, not a report of Nick’s personal field experience.
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Starting shutter speed
- 1/2000 sec or faster for flight.
- Light
- Low winter sun can give good light across open fields.
- Ethics
- Do not disturb winter roost sites.
Practical starting points, not fixed rules.