hen harrier

American  

noun

British.

1. northern harrier.

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hen harrier British  

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

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Etymology

Origin of hen harrier

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 • Jul. 15, 2025

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 • Apr. 21, 2025

In the same area in May 2022, the remains of of a male satellite-tagged hen harrier, called Free, was recovered by Natural England.

From BBC • Nov. 25, 2023

From 100 feet away, walking up the promenade to the British pavilion, the first thing you see is a mural of a hen harrier picking up a Range Rover in its talons.

From The Guardian • Jun. 1, 2013

He had disagreed with the disposal of the dead hen harrier; other little incidents, most of which had testified to his deep-rooted selfishness, I had not failed to notice.

From The Pilots of Pomona by Leighton, Robert