Hen Harrier

(Circus cyaneus)

Category of conservation concern (IUCN, 2020) – Least Concern

Population size: 0 – 2 pairs

Distribution pattern

Found in the Thracian Plain, in the area of the former Straldzha Marsh, the Northern Black Sea coast and the Danubian Plain. On June 9, 1997 in wetlands near the village of Orizovo, Plovdiv District, were observed courting two couples performing aerial displays. On May 31, 2002, single specimens were observed near a micro dam near the town of Rakovski and near a micro-dam near the village of Momino selo, Plovdiv District. On June 9, 1998, a single male was observed near the village of Venets, Karnobat District, and on June 11 1998 a single female – in the meadows near the dam Tserkovski. Single specimen have been seen between the 18th and 24th of June 1997 in the area of Kamen bryag, Dobrich District. On several occasions in April – May and August – September 1994–1996 single birds and a pair was observed between the villages Kashin, Kartozhabene and Tarnene, Pleven District. In recent years, there is no confirmed data on nesting habitats.

Comparative distribution of the species compared to the first breeding birds atlas (Iankov, 2007): Breeding locality until 2007 | Breeding locality until 2007, confirmed after 2015 – | New breeding locality after 2015. – The breeding localities after 2015 are identified on a base of raw data from smartbirds.org.

Habitats

Most of the birds, observed during the present period have been near micro-dams or other wetlands with marshy vegetation and in humid grassland and tall herb communities, near agricultural fields and other arable lands, and in the former Straldzha Marsh near Mesophilic grasslands. 

Trends in population changes for the period 2013-2020

Not analysed

Threats

Not analysed