Dr Emily Joachim is smitten with raptors of all kinds and hopes you will be too. Here, she provides a guide to 17 raptors you could see in Wiltshire, plus a bird with honorary raptor status.

Red kite (Milvus milvus)

Frequently named as our most beautiful bird of prey, the elegant red kite distinctively soars on its long wings, and its long, forked tail twists like a kite when it changes direction. Adults have a pale grey head, a reddish-brown body with black wingtips and a silver-grey undertail. Juveniles have more subdued colours and pale wingtips. Red kites are scavengers, eating carrion, roadkill, earthworms and sometimes small mammals. Persecuted to extinction in England during the 19th century, red kites can thankfully be seen again in Wiltshire’s skies following successful reintroductions. Spot them in open farmland habitat interspersed with woodland.

Marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus)

The largest of our harriers, it is distinguishable from others by its heavier build, broader wings and the absence of white on the rump. Adult males are reddishbrown overall, have a blue-grey head, black wingtips, and an unbarred tail. Females are dark-brown, have a pale wing edge, and pale cream cap and chin. Marsh harriers perform spectacular courtship displays, with the male flying in circles over the breeding area, followed by an elaborate sequence of tumbles; the female sometimes joins in. The marsh harrier is associated with wetland habitats. May, August and September are the best months to spot this migrant in Wiltshire, especially at Cotsworld Water Park and on Salisbury Plain.

Montagu’s harrier (Circus pygargus)

The graceful Montagu’s harrier is the UK’s rarest breeding raptor, with just five pairs in 2017; four nests were successful and 12 chicks fledged. These summer visitors arrive in the UK in May to nest, then return to Africa in August. Adult females are pale brown with darker barring on wings and tail, streaked underparts and a white rump, whereas males have blue-grey plumage, black wingtips, a dark bar on upperwings and two dark bars on underwings. Mark Thomas leads the UK Montagu’s harrier project. If you are lucky enough to spot one of these magnificent birds in Wiltshire, contact the RSPB’s Montagu’s harrier hotline on 01767 693398.

Hen harrier (Circus cyaneus)

Teetering on the brink of extinction in England, these glorious sky-dancers are our most persecuted raptor. They breed on heather moorlands, and in winter, move to lowland farmland, heathland, coastal marshes, fenland and river valleys. Adult males are pale blue-grey, have a white belly, a white rump and black wingtips. Females are brown with dark brown barring on wings and tail, streaked underparts, and they have a narrow white rump. Revered by birdwatchers for their grace, beauty and magnificent aerial acrobatics, the hen harrier is a truly special bird. You are most likely to spot this scarce, overwintering visitor in Wiltshire between September and March on Salisbury Plain.

Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)

Adapted to hunting in dense woodlands, this secretive and elusive small hawk has short, rounded wings, a long, barred tail, and thin, long legs. Adult males are stunning with blue-grey upperparts, a rufous body and underwings, and pale underparts, which are strongly barred. Females have grey-brown upperparts, pale underparts with dark barring, and are double the size of males. Young birds have greenish-yellow eyes; females develop bright yellow eyes, and males develop yelloworange eyes, and are sometimes mistaken for goshawks because of this. Sparrowhawks do eat some garden birds, but extensive research shows they are not the cause of widespread songbird declines.

Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)

This powerful hawk is revered as a symbol of strength. Bulkier looking than a sparrowhawk, its broad wings and long tail enable rapid acceleration and incredible manoeuvrability when flying between trees. Adults have brown-grey upperparts, pale-buff underparts with dark barring, a barred tail, orange eyes and powerful talons. Goshawks mainly eat crows, rooks, rabbits and wood pigeons. You are more likely to spot this elusive woodland bird in late winter and early spring; this is when they perform their stunning aerial displays above trees. Once persecuted to extinction in England, the goshawk is now a rare resident breeder in Wiltshire following reintroductions.

Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

A spectacular bird, often seen effortlessly soaring high up in thermals. Buzzards engage in breath-taking courtship aerial displays using their broad, rounded wings and fanned tail. Adult birds are mid-brown overall with white markings and favour open farmland with scattered woodland. We are very lucky that we can see more buzzards in Wiltshire again. Populations are still recovering to former numbers following persecution, the negative effects of DDT, and the myxomatosis outbreak, which killed 99% of rabbits. Buzzards mainly eat small mammals, carrion, large insects and earthworms. Winter mornings are a good time to spot buzzards foraging for worms in muddy fields.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

This regal fish-eating raptor has dark-brown upperparts, a pale crown, staring yellow eyes, white underparts with a dark chest band, a barred tail and an amazing 160cm wingspan. A scarce migrant in Wiltshire, spring and autumn are the best times to spot ospreys. They have been seen catching fish in Shearwater and other lakes on passage, and flying over Salisbury Plain. An exciting osprey translocation project began in Poole Harbour this summer to help re-establish a south coast breeding population of this glorious bird. Once established, it is hoped they will slowly expand their range into neighbouring counties. It would be amazing to have breeding ospreys in Wiltshire.

Tawny owl (Strix aluco)

You are more likely to hear their familiar ‘hooo, hu, huhuhuhooo’ and 'keewik, keewik’ sounding calls than see this beautiful nocturnal owl. Tawny owls have chestnutbrown plumage with mid-brown streaked upperparts and pale-streaked underparts. You can sometimes catch a glimpse of a tawny owl sitting on a fence post, perched on a low branch or on a telegraph post at dusk. They have a rounded body and head with a ring of darker feathers which surrounds their large black eyes. Tawny owls are early nesters and are especially vocal in autumn and winter as pairs establish their breeding territory. I recommend you go on an ‘owl prowl’ from October onwards.

Little owl (Athene noctua)

Magnificently quirky and characterful, the little owl is the smallest of our owls. Chocolate-brown in colour with an olivebrown tinge, the adults have cream-buff streaks and spots on their body, wings and head, lemon-yellow iris and pale feathers around their eyes, giving them their characteristic frowning expression. Vocalisations include their shrill ‘goooek, goooek’ and ‘kweew, kweew’ calls. Some people say they sound like a cat. You can spot little owls in orchards, villages, quarries, parkland, liveries and on farmland. They were introduced into England during the 1880s and can be seen throughout Wiltshire. Report your sightings to the UK Little Owl Project at emily@littleowlproject.co.uk

Barn owl (Tyto alba)

Locally known as the ghost or screech owl, the barn owl is an iconic species in Wiltshire, owing to the county’s extensive rough grassland habitat. This beautiful owl has a heart-shaped facial disc, pale ‘ghost-like’ underparts and orange-buff upperparts, speckled with black and white dots. This nocturnal owl can be seen perched on posts or quartering fields at dusk and dawn, which is when they are most active. Their diet predominately consists of small mammals and they sometimes hunt during mammals and they sometimes hunt during daytime if hunting conditions are diffi cult or there is a shortage of prey. Most of daytime if hunting conditions are diffi cult or there is a shortage of prey. Most of Wiltshire’s barn owls breed in nest boxes which are monitored annually by volunteers across the county.

Long-eared owl (Asio otus)

As its name suggests, the long-eared owl has prominent long feather tufts on its head that look like ears; these are only visible when alarmed. Buff-dark brown in colour and with paler underparts, its body is heavily streaked. They have an orangebuff facial disc with intense orange eyes. Elusive and nocturnal, the long-eared owl is a rare breeder in Wiltshire, with pairs breeding in former magpie and carrion crow nests and artificial wicker basket nests in copses surrounded by grassland. Males make a repetitive, low-pitched ‘hooo, hooo, hooo’ sounding call. Winter roost numbers are variable, with a maximum number of 18 long-eared owls at six roosts recorded here during winter 1997/1998.

Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus)

Nomadic in nature, the winter months provide the best opportunities to encounter these magical owls in Wiltshire. Short-eared owls mainly breed in upland England and Scotland then congregate in communal winter roosts on coastal marshes, wetlands and lowland grassland. Our most diurnal owl has piercing bright yellow eyes, mottled brown and pale buff upperparts, and a boldly streaked chest and wings. This medium-sized owl is often seen quartering an area of suitable habitat, hunting on the wing and listening and looking for signs of field voles in the grassland below. Researchers want to know more about short-eared owls, so email emily@littleowlproject. co.uk if you find a roost.

Merlin (Falco columbarius)

At just 28cm tall, the merlin is the UK’s smallest raptor. Adult males have bluegrey upperparts, streaked buff-cream underparts, contrasting dark flight feathers, a light reddish-brown streaked chest and a long, squared tail with a dark terminal band. Females are predominantly greyish-brown and both sexes have dark eyes. In flight, this falcon is extremely agile due to its small size and long pointed wings and it can manoeuvre very quickly when in pursuit of prey. Merlins breed in upland England, Scotland and Wales and overwinter in lowlands, and overwinter in lowlands, including Wiltshire. Numbers including Wiltshire. Numbers are sadly declining due are sadly declining due to changes in prey to changes in prey availability and nesting habitat through frequent heather burning.

Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Indisputably the fastest bird in the world, the peregrine falcon can reach incredible speeds of 250km per hour when it spectacularly dives in pursuit of prey. This powerful falcon has broad, pointed wings and a short, rounded tail, with females approximately a third larger than the males. Adults have a dark bluish-grey crown and upperparts, a distinctive grey ‘moustache’, pale barred underparts, black eyes and yellow talons. Peregrines nest in the uplands, on rocky outcrops and more recently, in urban habitats on tall buildings. Salisbury Cathedral’s peregrine pair successfully fostered and fledged an orphaned chick from Shropshire after its parents were sadly poisoned.

Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Wind-hoverers of roadside verges, the kestrel is a much-loved raptor. Undoubtedly one of our most beautiful birds, this smallsized falcon is light chestnut-brown in colour. In males, the rump, tail and head are bluish-grey and unbarred, whereas in females, they are brownish-red with dark barring; both have large black eyes framed with vivid yellow. Kestrels can be spotted in open countryside and are most often seen hovering over grassland in pursuit of field voles: its main prey. As with many of our farmland birds, kestrel numbers have sadly declined in recent decades. Conservation groups monitor more than 100 pairs of kestrels in nest boxes each year in this county.

Hobby (Falco subbuteo)

Arriving here from Africa in April, the sight of my first annual hobby is always an exciting moment. This kestrel-sized falcon has long, scythe-shaped wings, giving it the appearance of a large swift on the wing. Equally as agile, this primarily insectivorous falcon can rapidly accelerate and perform high-speed aerial manoeuvres as it catches prey in its talons and transfers it to its beak in flight. Adults have dark blue-grey upperparts, pale-streaked underparts, white cheeks, a dark grey ‘moustache’ and rusty-orange ‘trousers’. You can spot hobbies hunting over grassland and farmland in summer, with Salisbury Plain a favoured county spot. A hobby is in the Wiltshire Ornithological Society’s logo.

Raven (Corvus corax)

An honorary raptor, the raven is a remarkable bird. With an impressive 130cm wingspan, it is larger than a buzzard, and is fiercely intelligent and sociable. Its beautiful glossy black plumage shimmers with oily green and purple gleams. Ravens are omnivorous, opportunistic feeders and carrion forms most of its diet. With over 50 different vocalisations, the raven makes a loud, deep and husky ‘korrp’ call from its massive bill. They are very early breeders and start egg-laying in February; their chicks fledge during April. Its south-west recolonisation has been welcomed, and you can see this splendid bird all-year-round in Wiltshire on Salisbury Plain, Berwick Down and Marleycombe Hill.

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