Identify birds of prey

What bird of prey have you spotted?

‘Birds of prey’ are large, predatory bird species that have hooked bills, sharp talons, strong feet, and keen eyesight and hearing. They tend to feed on small mammals, birds, insects and reptiles. The UK’s birds of prey come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes:

• Hawks and eagles: medium to very large; hooked bills; rounded or broad wings; sharp talons; tend to soar
• Falcons: small to medium-sized; tapered wings and tails; fast and agile; often hover
• Owls: small to large; rounded heads; small, hooked bills; forward-facing eyes; mainly nocturnal

Sparrowhawk

Where: Variety of habitats, including gardens, across the UK.
Description: One of our smallest birds of prey. Males are between a blackbird and a collared dove in size. Females are larger, up to the size of a feral pigeon. Males have blue-grey backs and white underparts with orange barring. Females are brown above, with grey barring underneath. Both have reddish cheeks. 

More about the sparrowhawk

Buzzard

Where: Grassland, farmland and woodland across the UK.
Description: The most frequently seen bird of prey. Brown plumage which can vary from uniform dark brown to much paler shades. They have broader wings and shorter tails than harriers or red kite.

More about buzzards

Red kite

Where: Woodland and farmland found mainly in Wales and southeast England, but red kites are spreading across the country
Description: Large. Reddish-brown plumage, black-tipped wings with white patches underneath, and an unmistakable forked tail.

More about the red kite

Kestrel

Where: Grassland, heathland and sometimes towns across the UK.
Description: Small - a little larger than a feral pigeon. Grey head, grey tail with dark banding, gingery-brown back, and a creamy, speckled underside.

More about the kestrel

Peregrine falcon

Where: Coastal cliffs and some towns in north and south west England, Wales and Scotland. 

Where to see peregrine falcons

Description: Medium - it is our biggest falcon. Slate-grey above and white below, with black bars underneath, a white throat and cheeks, and a black moustache and mask.

More about the peregrine falcon

Hobby

Where: Southern and eastern heathlands and wetlands in summer. A very rare visitor to Scotland
Description: Small falcon. Slate-grey plumage, with black streaks on its belly, red 'trousers', a white throat, and a dark moustache and mask. With pointed wings, it can look like an over-sized swift in the air.

More about the hobby

Merlin

Where: Moorlands and coastal marshes in England, Wales and Scotland.
Description: Our smallest falcon. Males are blue-grey above and cream with black streaks underneath. Females are grey-brown with dark streaking. They have blunt tails and compact, broad-based wings which are pointed at the tip.

More about the merlin

Hen harrier

Where: Breeds on upland moors (rare in England); winters on coasts, heathland and farmland across the UK.  

Where to see hen harriers

Description: Medium, slim bird. Females are brown above and streaked below, with a white rump and banded tail. Males are blue-grey with a white rump, pale underside and black wingtips.

More about hen harriers 

Tawny owl

Where: Woodland, parks and gardens across the UK.
Description: Medium. Mottled brown plumage, a rounded head, large, dark eyes, and a dark ring around its face. They are known for their 'too-wit too-woo' song - the female makes the 'too-wit' sound and the male answers with 'too-woo'.

More about the tawny owl

Marsh harrier

Where: Reedbeds in East Anglia, Somerset and the South East
Description: Large - the largest of our harriers. Males are brown above and ginger underneath, with grey, black-tipped wings. Females are chocolate-brown with a golden-yellow crown and throat. They create a distinctive V-shape in the air by holding their wings up.

More about the marsh harrier

Golden eagle

Where: Upland areas and glens in north and west of Scotland.
Description: Very large, with longer wings and a longer tail than the white-tailed eagle. Mainly dark brown, with a golden head and neck. Younger birds have white patches in their wings and a white base to their tail.

More about the golden eagle

Barn owl

Where: Grassland and farmland across the UK.

Where to see barn owls 

Description: Small. Mottled silver-grey and buff back, white underside, heart-shaped, white face, and black eyes. Unmistakable!

More about the barn owl

Osprey

Where: Wetlands in Scotland, Northumberland, Cumbria, Wales and the East Midlands in summer

Where to see ospreys

Description: Large. Dark above and white below, with angled wings that show dark patches. White head with dark brown through their eyes. During flight their wings show strong barring. 

More about the osprey

Short-eared owl

Where: Moorlands, saltmarshes and rough grassland. Unusual owl as it prefers to be out in the daytime.
Description: Medium. Mottled yellowy-brown above and pale below, with dark circles around its yellow eyes and short ‘ear tufts’. The similar long-eared owl is darker with orange-red eyes and long ear tufts

More about the short-eared owl

Other rare species that breed in the UK include goshawk, white-tailed eagle and long-eared owl. Explore all the UK's birds of prey on our species explorer.

Are birds of prey under threat?

During the 20^th century, many of our birds of prey were persecuted to near extinction such as the white-tailed eagle, or severely suffered from the effects of organochlorine pesticides like DDT - such as the merlin. Today, massive conservation efforts offer them a lifeline. Not only are The Wildlife Trusts involved in reintroduction and habitat restoration programmes we are also working towards a living landscape – a network of habitats that link urban green spaces and nature reserves with the wider countryside, enabling wildlife to thrive and move about freely.