hen harrier
Definition
Noun: A medium-sized bird of prey (Circus cyaneus), also known as the northern harrier. It is characterized by its long wings and tail, and a distinctive white rump patch. It commonly inhabits marshes and open lands, where it nests on the ground. The male is typically pale gray, while the female and young are brown.
Usage
The term "hen harrier" is used to specifically identify this species of harrier. It functions as a countable noun. * The hen harrier is known for its low, gliding flight over open fields. * Conservation efforts are crucial for protecting the hen harrier's nesting sites. * We spotted a female hen harrier hunting near the marsh.
Advanced Usage
- The name "hen harrier" is historical, reflecting a time when the bird was (often incorrectly) blamed for taking poultry ("hens").
- In North America, this species is more commonly called the "northern harrier."
Variants and Related Words
- Northern Harrier (n): The primary North American name for the same species (Circus cyaneus).
- Harrier (n): The general term for birds in the genus , which includes the hen harrier, marsh harrier, and others. They are known for their facial disk and low hunting flight.
- Ring-tail (n): A colloquial term sometimes used for the brown, female hen harrier, referring to the banded tail.
Synonyms
- Northern harrier
- Marsh hawk (an older, now less common name)
Related Phrases
- To quarter the ground: A phrase describing the harrier's characteristic hunting method of flying low back and forth over open land. While not exclusive to "hen harrier," it is a key behavior of the species.
- From a distance, we could see the harrier quartering the ground in search of voles.
Noun
-
common harrier of North America and Europe; nests in marshes and open land
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