Birds of Prey

We have 19 bird of prey species in the UK, ranging from the tiny Little Owl to the great White Tailed Eagle. This page will give you a snap shot of each species, and what to do if you find an injured bird of prey.

Little Owl (Athene noctua)

  • Nocturnal
  • Non-native but has little ecological impact
  • Small, brown and white mottled feathers, yellow eyes and beak. Male and female Little Owls share similar plumage, however males are generally slightly larger in size.
  • Wingspan: 56cm
  • Found in England, Wales and Southern Scotland

Merlin (Falco columbarius)

  • Diurnal
  • Conservation Status: Red
  • Males are blue-grey above, with a grey head and orange/ cream underparts streaked in black. Females are mainly grey-brown, with dark streaking underneath.
  • Wingspan: 56cm
  • Nests on moorlands in North and South West England, Wales and Scotland.

Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)

  • Diurnal
  • Conservation Status: Amber
  • Rounded wings and a relatively long, narrow tail. Females can be up to 25% larger than males and have browner plumage above and grey barring on chest and undercarriage. Males have a grey-blue black, white chest and undercarriage with reddish barring.
  • Wingspan: 62cm
  • Widespread across the UK
  • As a sparrowhawk ages, its eyes turn from yellow to orange to a deep red!

Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

  • Diurnal
  • Conservation Status: Amber
  • Wingspan: 76cm
  • Typically seen hovering when hunting for prey.
  • Both male and female kestrels display prominent vertical bands below the eyes. Males have a grey head and tail with a prominent black band, a brown back and a cream, speckled underside. Females have a uniform speckled cream and brown plumage and dark bands on the tail.
  • Widespread across the UK

Hobby (Falco subbuteo)

  • Diurnal
  • Conservation Status: Green
  • Migratory species from Africa
  • Wingspan: 87cm
  • Males and females will display similar plumage on the body; a dark brown head and back, mottled cream and brown undercarriage. However adult males will have solid orange leg feathers or 'trousers', females will have obvious striped orange trousers.
  • Summer visitor to South and East of England and South West Wales.

Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

  • Crepuscular
  • Conservation Status: Green
  • Wingspan: 89cm
  • Mottled silver-grey and buff brown back, and a pure white underside. It has a distinctive heart-shaped, white face, and black eyes.
  • At night, listen for the screeching and hissing calls made by barn owls.
  • Widespread across the UK, but absent from the Scottish Highlands and declining in Northern Ireland.

Long Eared Owl (Asio otus)

  • Nocturnal
  • Conservation Status: Green
  • Wingspan: 95cm
  • Flies in a zig-zag pattern when searching for prey before swooping down to make a catch.
  • Prominent, large tufts can be seen on top of the head. Mottled brown plumage and bright, orange eyes.
  • Breeds across the UK, but less common in the South West and Wales.

Tawny Owl (Strix aluco)

  • Nocturnal
  • Conservation Status: Amber
  • Wingspan: 99cm
  • Mottled reddish brown plumage with a paler undercarriage.
  • Tawny Owls will sit and wait for prey before swooping down.
  • Widespread across the UK, but absent from Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.

Short Eared Owl (Asio flammeus)

  • Diurnal
  • Conservation Status: Amber
  • Wingspan: 1m
  • Short tufts on top of head, dark rings around yellow eyes. Mottled brown and buff back, and a pale underside.
  • Ground nesting
  • Nests in uplands of the UK, and ventures south for winter.

Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)

  • Diurnal
  • Conservation Status: Red
  • Wingspan: 1.1m
  • One of the most endangered breeding birds of prey in the UK
  • Males are a blueish-grey, with a white bottom, pale undercarriage and black wing tips. Females are brown on the back, with streaks on the undercarriage, a white rump and banded tail.
  • Ground nesting
  • Can be seen in Scotland, Northern Ireland, upland Wales and the Isle of Man.

Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

  • Diurnal
  • Conservation Status: Green
  • Wingspan: 1.2m
  • Broad wings and a concave tail. Plumage can vary from a uniform brown to paler mottled shades. Light horizontal band under wing.
  • When in flight, a buzzard can be identified by its concave tail shape and circular soaring
  • Widespread across the UK.

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

  • Diurnal
  • Conservation Status: Green
  • Wingspan: 1.2m
  • Slate grey back and pale, barred undercarriage. White throat and cheeks, black moustache and facial mask.
  • Can reach speeds of 200mph when stooping.
  • Recently favoured unusual nest sites including Salisbury Cathedral.
  • Nests throughout the UK, favouring cliff faces and high rise buildings.

Marsh Harrier (Circus cyaneus)

  • Diurnal
  • Conservation Status: Amber
  • Wingspan: 1.2m
  • One of the most endangered breeding birds of prey in the UK
  • Females are chocolate brown with golden throats and crowns. Males have a brown back, ginger stomach, pale head and neck, and long, grey wings with black tips
  • Ground nesting in large reedbeds
  • Can be seen in UK Marshlands.

Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)

  • Diurnal
  • Conservation Status: Green
  • Wingspan: up to 1.2m
  • Up-close they show thick legs and a white line above each orange eye. Females are larger than males and have a grey back and a whitish barred undercarriage. Males are smaller, with blue-grey upperparts. Juvenile birds have striped rather than barred underparts.
  • Can reach 40kph when hunting in woodlands.
  • Localised populations found across the UK.

Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus)

  • Diurnal
  • Conservation Status: Amber
  • Wingspan: 1.42m
  • Resemble common buzzards but have a much paler appearance, slimmer neck and large wingspan.
  • Main food source is nests and larvae of wasps and bees.
  • Summer UK resident, migrating to tropical Africa for winter. Only breeds in undisturbed woodland.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

  • Diurnal
  • Conservation Status: Amber
  • Wingspan: 1.6m
  • Brown back and stripes on face. White undercarriage and wing that can appear mottled in females.
  • Migrates to West Africa in winter.
  • Nests in parts of Scotland, Cumbria, the East Midlands and Wales.

Red Kite (Milvus milvus)

  • Diurnal
  • Conservation Status: Green
  • Wingspan: 1.8m
  • Can be easily identified be its iconic reddish forked tail. Reddish back and abdomen. White head and white and black tipped wings.
  • Can be seen soaring at height in search of carrion.
  • Widespread across the UK.

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)

  • Diurnal
  • Conservation Status: Green
  • Wingspan: 2.2m
  • Longer tail than the White Tailed Eagle. Maily dark brown with a golden head and neck.
  • Found in the uplands of Scotland.
  • Golden Eagles pair for life.

White Tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)

  • Diurnal
  • Conservation Status: Amber
  • Wingspan: 2.2m
  • White wedge shaped tail, pale head with a yellow bill.
  • 40 breeding pairs now nest in Scotland.
  • Can be seen on the West Coast of Scotland.

Injured Birds of Prey

Injured and unwell birds of prey require specialist rehabilitation, which should always be carried out by a wildlife rescue centre or vet.

Rescuing birds of prey can present a danger to the rescuer, as these predatory birds may lash out with their talons or beaks when attempts to contain them are made. If you do not have suitable means to protect yourself when containing the bird, please do not attempt to rescue and instead call your closest wildlife rescue for assistance.

When is rescue required?

  • The bird has obvious injuries   
  • The bird is grounded and makes no attempt to fly
    when approached. Some species such as red kites may ‘play dead’ when feeling
    threatened, observe the bird from a distance for a moment to see if their
    behaviour changes when humans aren’t present.

This bird needs help, what do I do next?

  • Assess the situation first, can you safely rescue the bird and keep yourself safe? If so, follow the next steps.
  • Put on a pair of thick, protective gloves and slowly approach the bird from the front.
  • Place a large towel or coat over the bird ensuring the head and wings are covered.
  • Once calm, pick up the bird using both hands. Ensure both wings are folded against the body and secure the legs and talons.
  • Gently place the bird in a ventilated cardboard
    box. Ideally put the towel in the box with the bird.
  • Do not add additional heat sources, food or
    water.
  •  Cover the box with a blanket and make a note of your location with What3Words, Maps or your co-ordinates. The rehabilitator will need this information to release the bird in their territory.
  • Take the bird to your closest vet or wildlife rehabilitator. Resist disturbing the bird by checking on it, this will likely
    cause more stress.

If you come across a dead bird of prey and suspect persecution or poisoning, do not touch the carcass or the surrounding area. Please call 101 and ask to speak to the Wildlife Crime Officer.

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