Hawkmaster
27-01-2005, 10:28 PM
Madagascar baza (Aviceda Madagascariensis)
Madagascar buzzard (Buteo Brachypterus)
Madagascar fish-eagle (Haliaeetus Vociferoides)
Madagascar harrier hawk (Polyboroides Radiatus)
Madagascar kestrel (Falco Newtoni)
Madagascar long-eared owl (Asio Madagascariensis)
Madagascar owl (cf. madagascar long-eared owl)
Madagascar Red Owl (Tyto Soumagnei)
Madagascar scops owl (Otus Rutilus)
Madagascar sparrowhawk (Accipiter Madagascariensis)
Malaysian wood owl (Strix Leptogrammica)
Maned owl (Jubula Lettii)
Mantanani scops owl (Otus Mentananensis)
Manus hawk owl (Ninox Meeki)
Manus Masked Owl (Tyto Manusi)
Marbled owl (cf. boobook owl)
Marsh owl (Asio Capensis)
Marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
AKA: Eurasian marsh harrier
The largest of the harriers, it can be recognised by its long tail and light flight with wings held in a shallow 'V'. It is distinguishable from other harriers by its larger size, heavier build, broader wings and absence of white on the rump. Females are larger than males and have obvious creamy heads. Its future in the UK is now more secure than at any time during the last century but historical declines and subsequent recovery means it is an Amber List species.
Where does it live?
Breeding
Usually found in and around wetlands, with some birds now breeding on arable land.
Wintering
Tropical marshes and swamps.
Where to see it
Mainly found in eastern and south-east England, with some in the north-west, south-west and Scotland. Seen over reedbeds and marshes, as well as farmland near wetlands. Marsh harriers can be seen at: Elmley, Kent; Leighton Moss, Lancashire; Minsmere, Suffolk; Titchwell Marsh and Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; Ouse and Nene Washes, Cambs, and Blacktoft Sands, Yorkshire. Other nature reserves with marsh harriers include Stodmarsh, Kent and Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire.
What does it eat?
Small birds and mammals
What does it sound like?
Mostly silent
When to see it
Birds are back in their breeding areas by April and leave in September and October.
Martial eagle (Polemaetus Bellicosus)
Mauritius kestrel (Falco Punctatus)
Mentawai scops owl (Otus Mentawi)
Merlin (Falco Columbarius)
AKA: Pigeon hawk (N America)
The UK's smallest bird of prey, this compact, dashing falcon has a relatively long, square-cut tail and rather broad-based pointed wings, shorter than those of other falcons. Its wingbeat tends to be rapid with occasional glides, wings held close to the body. Its small size enables it to hover and hang in the breeze as it pursues its prey. In winter the UK population increases as most of the Icelandic breeding birds migrate to our warmer climate. Although recovering from a population crash in the late 20th century it is still on the Amber List.
Where does it live?
Breeding
Upland heather moorland is the commonest breeding habitat, with some birds breeding in the edge of conifer plantations.
Wintering
Its winter habitat is lowland and varied - from inland farmland to coastal saltmarshes. Roosts on heathland and in reedbeds.
Where to see it
The UK breeding population is at the south-west extremity of the merlin's European range, and is thinly scattered across upland moorland from south-west England north to Shetland. In winter birds leave upland areas and come down to inland lowland and coastal areas. They can be seen in almost any open country but are often found near coasts. They can be found at roosts in reedbeds, bogs and on heaths, often with hen harriers.
What does it eat?
Mainly small birds
What does it sound like?
A shrill 'kek kek kek'
When to see it
All year round. Birds leave their upland breeding areas between August and october, when N European birds also arrive here. They return again in April and May. In summer the RSPB reserves at Forsinard, Highland and Trumland(Orkney) have merlins. In winter they are regularly seen at: Elmley Marshes, Kent; Northward Hill, Kent; Martin Mere, Lancs; Marshside, Merseyside; Pulborough Brooks, Sussex; and Blacktoft Sands, Yorkshire.
Meyer's Goshawk (Accipiter Meyerianus)
Millenium Falcon (?)
Minahassa Masked Owl (Tyto Inexpectata)
Mindanao scops owl (Otus Mirus)
Mindoro scops owl (Otus Mindorensis)
Mississippi kite (Ictinia misisippiensis)
Moheli scops owl (Otus Moheliensis)
Moluccan goshawk (Accipiter Henicogrammus)
Moluccan hawk owl (Ninox Squamipila)
Moluccan scops owl (Otus Magicus)
Monk vulture (cf. cinereous vulture)
Montagu's harrier (Circus Cineraceus)
The Montagu’s harrier is a slim, medium-sized, long-winged bird of prey. It has a long tail, is smaller than a buzzard, and has more pointed wings than the similar hen harrier. The male is grey above. In flight, it shows black wingtips and a black stripe across the inner wing. The female is dark brown. It is an extremely rare breeding bird in the UK, and its status is precarious. Each pair needs special protection. It seems increasingly to be nesting on arable farmland rather than on marshes, which seems to have been fortunate, because nests on farmland produce more chicks. It is a summer visitor, and migrates to Africa to spend the winter.
Where does it live?
Breeding
Traditionally on fens, wet fields, heaths and moors. More recently on agricultural fields, especially winter wheat, barley and oilseed rape.
Wintering
Dry grassland, marshes and even uplands in sub-Saharan Africa.
Passage
Southern and eastern coasts of England
Where to see it
Nest sites are kept secret to protect birds from egg collectors and unwitting disturbance. It is possible to see them on passage, particularly on the south and eastern coasts of England.
What does it eat?
Small birds, voles, shrews, rabbits, lizards and insects.
What does it sound like?
Generally silent but at nest it makes a chattering, high-pitched ‘yick-yick-yick’ call.
When to see it
Between May and August
Morepork (Ninox Novaeseelandiae)
Mottled owl (Strix Virgata)
Mottled wood owl (Strix Ocellata)
Mountain buzzard (Buteo Oreophilus)
Mountain Caracara (Phalcoboenus megalopterus)
Mountain pygmy-owl (Glaucidium Gnoma)
Mountain scops owl (Otus Spilocephalus)
Madagascar buzzard (Buteo Brachypterus)
Madagascar fish-eagle (Haliaeetus Vociferoides)
Madagascar harrier hawk (Polyboroides Radiatus)
Madagascar kestrel (Falco Newtoni)
Madagascar long-eared owl (Asio Madagascariensis)
Madagascar owl (cf. madagascar long-eared owl)
Madagascar Red Owl (Tyto Soumagnei)
Madagascar scops owl (Otus Rutilus)
Madagascar sparrowhawk (Accipiter Madagascariensis)
Malaysian wood owl (Strix Leptogrammica)
Maned owl (Jubula Lettii)
Mantanani scops owl (Otus Mentananensis)
Manus hawk owl (Ninox Meeki)
Manus Masked Owl (Tyto Manusi)
Marbled owl (cf. boobook owl)
Marsh owl (Asio Capensis)
Marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
AKA: Eurasian marsh harrier
The largest of the harriers, it can be recognised by its long tail and light flight with wings held in a shallow 'V'. It is distinguishable from other harriers by its larger size, heavier build, broader wings and absence of white on the rump. Females are larger than males and have obvious creamy heads. Its future in the UK is now more secure than at any time during the last century but historical declines and subsequent recovery means it is an Amber List species.
Where does it live?
Breeding
Usually found in and around wetlands, with some birds now breeding on arable land.
Wintering
Tropical marshes and swamps.
Where to see it
Mainly found in eastern and south-east England, with some in the north-west, south-west and Scotland. Seen over reedbeds and marshes, as well as farmland near wetlands. Marsh harriers can be seen at: Elmley, Kent; Leighton Moss, Lancashire; Minsmere, Suffolk; Titchwell Marsh and Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; Ouse and Nene Washes, Cambs, and Blacktoft Sands, Yorkshire. Other nature reserves with marsh harriers include Stodmarsh, Kent and Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire.
What does it eat?
Small birds and mammals
What does it sound like?
Mostly silent
When to see it
Birds are back in their breeding areas by April and leave in September and October.
Martial eagle (Polemaetus Bellicosus)
Mauritius kestrel (Falco Punctatus)
Mentawai scops owl (Otus Mentawi)
Merlin (Falco Columbarius)
AKA: Pigeon hawk (N America)
The UK's smallest bird of prey, this compact, dashing falcon has a relatively long, square-cut tail and rather broad-based pointed wings, shorter than those of other falcons. Its wingbeat tends to be rapid with occasional glides, wings held close to the body. Its small size enables it to hover and hang in the breeze as it pursues its prey. In winter the UK population increases as most of the Icelandic breeding birds migrate to our warmer climate. Although recovering from a population crash in the late 20th century it is still on the Amber List.
Where does it live?
Breeding
Upland heather moorland is the commonest breeding habitat, with some birds breeding in the edge of conifer plantations.
Wintering
Its winter habitat is lowland and varied - from inland farmland to coastal saltmarshes. Roosts on heathland and in reedbeds.
Where to see it
The UK breeding population is at the south-west extremity of the merlin's European range, and is thinly scattered across upland moorland from south-west England north to Shetland. In winter birds leave upland areas and come down to inland lowland and coastal areas. They can be seen in almost any open country but are often found near coasts. They can be found at roosts in reedbeds, bogs and on heaths, often with hen harriers.
What does it eat?
Mainly small birds
What does it sound like?
A shrill 'kek kek kek'
When to see it
All year round. Birds leave their upland breeding areas between August and october, when N European birds also arrive here. They return again in April and May. In summer the RSPB reserves at Forsinard, Highland and Trumland(Orkney) have merlins. In winter they are regularly seen at: Elmley Marshes, Kent; Northward Hill, Kent; Martin Mere, Lancs; Marshside, Merseyside; Pulborough Brooks, Sussex; and Blacktoft Sands, Yorkshire.
Meyer's Goshawk (Accipiter Meyerianus)
Millenium Falcon (?)
Minahassa Masked Owl (Tyto Inexpectata)
Mindanao scops owl (Otus Mirus)
Mindoro scops owl (Otus Mindorensis)
Mississippi kite (Ictinia misisippiensis)
Moheli scops owl (Otus Moheliensis)
Moluccan goshawk (Accipiter Henicogrammus)
Moluccan hawk owl (Ninox Squamipila)
Moluccan scops owl (Otus Magicus)
Monk vulture (cf. cinereous vulture)
Montagu's harrier (Circus Cineraceus)
The Montagu’s harrier is a slim, medium-sized, long-winged bird of prey. It has a long tail, is smaller than a buzzard, and has more pointed wings than the similar hen harrier. The male is grey above. In flight, it shows black wingtips and a black stripe across the inner wing. The female is dark brown. It is an extremely rare breeding bird in the UK, and its status is precarious. Each pair needs special protection. It seems increasingly to be nesting on arable farmland rather than on marshes, which seems to have been fortunate, because nests on farmland produce more chicks. It is a summer visitor, and migrates to Africa to spend the winter.
Where does it live?
Breeding
Traditionally on fens, wet fields, heaths and moors. More recently on agricultural fields, especially winter wheat, barley and oilseed rape.
Wintering
Dry grassland, marshes and even uplands in sub-Saharan Africa.
Passage
Southern and eastern coasts of England
Where to see it
Nest sites are kept secret to protect birds from egg collectors and unwitting disturbance. It is possible to see them on passage, particularly on the south and eastern coasts of England.
What does it eat?
Small birds, voles, shrews, rabbits, lizards and insects.
What does it sound like?
Generally silent but at nest it makes a chattering, high-pitched ‘yick-yick-yick’ call.
When to see it
Between May and August
Morepork (Ninox Novaeseelandiae)
Mottled owl (Strix Virgata)
Mottled wood owl (Strix Ocellata)
Mountain buzzard (Buteo Oreophilus)
Mountain Caracara (Phalcoboenus megalopterus)
Mountain pygmy-owl (Glaucidium Gnoma)
Mountain scops owl (Otus Spilocephalus)