General

Harriers of genus Circus form a distinct group of six continental Eurasian species. Some of them may be quite tricky to separate from each other, but less often from other raptor species. Taxonomically they are close to the Accipiters, but different looking and easy to separate from those. Harriers hunt by flying low over open areas for extended periods. On migration they are less dependant on thermals than e.g. Buteo buzzards, but otherwise with similar migration habits. When gliding, they hold their wings in a low V and this is even more distinct when they soar. The V is more steep than in Buteos, and an important character at a distance, when combined with a longish tail and the long, narrow wings typical of harriers. The two species of Marsh Harriers are the largest and heaviest, and most like the Buteo buzzards, but still somewhat slimmer, and especially, longer-tailed. Hen, Pied and both Marsh Harriers have five protruding fingers, but Montagu's and Pallid only four, and this is especially important when trying to separate the latter two species from some Hen Harriers.

Adult males of all harriers are very differently coloured from juveniles and females, with large pale bluish feather tracts. Females and juveniles are mainly brownish, often with a distinctive white rump. In Pied, Eastern Marsh, Montagu's and Pallid Harriers, adult females are rather distinct from juveniles, but in Western Marsh and Hen they are quite similar. Males of marsh harriers have a more or less distinct subadult plumage -the second plumage is intermediate between the brown plumage and adult male plumage. In Montagu's and Pied, second-year males are hardly separable from adults once the first moult has been completed, in Hen and Pallid Harriers they resemble adult males but show more brownish patterns.

The identification of the marsh harriers is complicated by hybridisation (where their breeding areas meet), by the similarity of especially the juveniles, and as both species are also very variable in colouration and pattern. Because of variation, some Eastern Marsh Harriers are also difficult to separate from some Pied Harriers - especially subadult male Eastern Marsh from adult female Pied, and some juveniles from each other, with structure being an important character. Some Hen Harriers may be confusable with the two slimmest and smallest species, Montagu's and Pallid, which are often difficult to separate from each other in their brown plumages.

Harriers are generally similar to each other in shape and movements. There are still distinctive differences in bulkiness and wing.shape, although the species closest to each other are difficult even for experienced observers.

Distribution

Northern Eurasia from Western Europe in a broad belt through Europe, including the northern parts, and Siberia to the Pacific coast. Wintering in Central and Southern Europe, the Middle East, North India and widely in China.

Life cycle

Resident in the west, elsewhere short-distance to quite long-distance migrant. Summer breeder, moults mostly during the summer.

General

Typical harrier. Mostly resembles Pallid and Montagu's Harriers. Primaries P6-P10 finger-like, therefore shows five fingers with the wing-tip broader than in Pallid and Montagu's, which is an important distinction in all plumages. In very detailed views of the uppersides of the primaries this shows in that the outer web of P6 is emarginated in Hen, but not in the smaller species.

PITFALLS: Moulting birds may show a wing-tip shape similar to that of Pallid and Montagu's, but note the broader arm than in those species. Therefore, it is always important to see whether the bird is moulting or not.

General comparison

Hen Harrier is distinct in shape, but the differences are not always obvious, with moult effects making it more difficult. Therefore experience is needed for correct assessment.

Adult male

Bluish-grey head, pale grey breast and belly, with the border between them distinct (vs Pallid). Darker bluish-grey upperparts. Six outer primaries black (in Pallid the outer two primaries show less black and therefore the shape of black on the wing-tip looks different even from a distance). Darker trailing edge to the secondaries (vs. adult male Pallid). Central tail-feathers unpatterned (as in the other species) but the rest show some indistinct bars (in Western Marsh Harrier no bars, in Pallid brown bars, in Montagu's distinct rufous bars).

Adult female

Has a collar, but it is less contrasting than in Pallid. The black bars of the secondaries seem to continue uninterrupted to the primaries, although in adults the bars on the secondaries are often broader and blacker (in Pallid, the bars do not look continuous). In better views the dark barring is visible on the uppersides of the secondaries (as in adult female Montagu's but unlike adult female Pallid).

First-year

AGE: Unlike Pallid and Montagu's, the underparts are streaked in juveniles also. Head pattern is more distinct and contrasting than in adult females, with less streaked ear-coverts. Underparts are finely streaked and the streaking becomes progressively lighter towards the rear with the undertail-coverts unpatterned (in adults bolder spots on underparts and undertail-coverts spotted). Ground colour of the underparts more rufous than in adult, especially in autumn, but fading towards spring. Upperparts browner and with regular pattern without signs of moult, and greater upperwing-coverts with pale rufous tips, but becomes worn and faded by spring. From above, secondaries are unbarred, from below with less distinct and narrower pale bars than in adult females (which have a ground colour similar to that of the primaries, and blacker, more contrasting and broader bars. Especially the outermost secondary bar of adult females is blacker, broader and more contrasting than in juveniles). Primary coverts unbarred (barred in adult females). Dark eyes in juvenile females (until 2cy autumn), paler in males. Juvenile females have thicker body and proportionally smaller head than males. Females often have quite sparsely streaked or almost unstreaked belly and undertail coverts, which have extensive rufous cast while males show more distinct streaks especially on the rear parts with whiter background colour. Males also have paler undersides of the secondaries with more distinct dark bars.

SPECIES: Separation from Pallid and Montagu's as in adult female, but head pattern may be more Pallid-like and underparts more strongly coloured, possibly causing confusion.

Subadult

The second set of feathers is generally adult-like, with no real subadult plumages. Moult starts during the summer of the second calendar-year, but some individuals have moulted some feathers earlier, during their first winter. In the autumn of the second calendar-year the plumage is a mixture of juvenile and post-juvenile feathers, which is striking in males, but less evident in females.
PITFALLS: In its second calendar-year, males which still have unmoulted outer primaries may show black on the wing-tip in a shape resembling adult male Pallid. In these cases, it is important to see whether the bird is moulting or not.

Distribution

Breeder in SE Siberia, winters in southern China, SE Asia and NE Indian SC.

Life cycle

A migrant and summer breeder, most of the moult during summer, but typically suspended for the autumn migration, long distance migrant.

General

Pied Harrier is a slim harrier, but with five fingers. The shape is slimmer than in Eastern Marsh, but female Pieds are larger and heavier than males and more easily confused with especially male Eastern. The head of Pied is smaller, rounder and less protruding. Wing beats are light, the body slim and wings narrow as in Pallid and Montagu's Harriers, but the wing-tip is somewhat broader and similar to that of Hen Harrier. Some plumages of Eastern Marsh Harrier are confusingly similar and the distributions of the two species overlap widely.

Adult male

Very contrasting and distinct plumage. Overall bluish white, but with a black hood, black mantle and back continuing as a black belt through the upper wing-coverts to the inner greater coverts and median coverts, also the six outer primaries are black. Some resemblance to adult male Eastern Marsh, but solid black hood (vs variable in Eastern Marsh, but always with some streaks), no streaks on breast, extensive solid black areas on wing-tips (in some cases Eastern Marsh comes close) and solid dark upperpart markings (vs variegated in Eastern Marsh). Hen Harrier has a much paler hood and a dark trailing edge to the wings.

Adult female

Confusable with some adult female and also subadult male Eastern Marsh Harriers, less so with female-type plumages of Hen Harrier. Overall plumage colouration is cold greyish brown (females of Eastern Marsh and Hen more extensively darker brown). From a distance, general colouration with greyish areas on upperparts may resemble adult male Western Marsh Harrier. The head is streaked with pale areas above and below eyes (generally less defined in Eastern Marsh), and there is a collar that is streaked but still conspicuous, although often narrow (still less distinct in Eastern Marsh). Underparts are strongly streaked on paleish ground colour, but with the lower belly less streaked (vs Eastern Marsh, which is uniformly streaked throughout the underparts, ie. no dark belt on the upper breast as in Pied – but some Eastern Marsh males are closer to typical Pied in this respect). Pale underwing-coverts finely streaked, but greater coverts often barred (in adult female Eastern Marsh and Hen generally darker brownish, with bolder streaks and bars). Quite extensive and contrasting pale brown triangle on the lesser upperwing-coverts and a dark area behind that – ghosting the male pattern (in Eastern Marsh, the whole covert area is more uniform, and in Hen, there is a pale patch in the middle of the covert area). Greater upperwing-coverts also greyish and barred black (this is less obvious in female Eastern Marsh, but subadult males may be similar). From above, secondaries show black bars on greyish background. (Similar pattern in Eastern Marsh, less greyish and more brownish in adult female Eastern Marsh, but some subadult males may be almost identical, In adult female Hen the bars are visible but much less conspicuous on browner ground colour). Primaries are also greyish from above, showing quite solid dark wing-tips (female Eastern has more barred fingers, but subadults males may again be identical, while Hen also has barred fingers). White rump, with the longest feathers showing some brown subterminal markings. The uppertail shows four or five quite distinct black bands (less distinct in male Eastern Marsh, although females show variable bands.)

First-year

May resemble Eastern Marsh Harrier of the same age. Head medium brown with indistinct collar (lacking in young Eastern Marsh, which also often have extensive pale buff areas on head, lesser wing-coverts and breast), some have head paler brown than the body. Most have a white, brown-flecked patch on the hindneck (Eastern Marsh has variable buff areas on the head, lacking a neck patch with similar effect). Underbody often almost uniformly medium brown, but variably blotched or streaked, and underwing-coverts similar (vs e.g. Hen). In this plumage, showing no pale area on the upperwing-coverts, which are quite uniformly brown. Primaries barred, sometimes indistinctly, secondaries barred but darker, sometimes so dark that the barring is difficult to see (vs unbarred in first-year Eastern Marsh, while barred in adult female Eastern Marsh, but with very a broad trailing band and narrow internal bands vs three or four equal bands in 1y Pied). White area on rump wider than in Eastern Marsh.

Subadult

The second set of feathers is adult-like and there are no real subadult plumages. Already in March-April of 2nd calendar-year many males have started to moult with some showing whitish areas underneath and blackish blotches on the upperparts and even new pale rectrices. Males attain a pale iris quite early, females later.

Distribution

Breeds in SE Siberia, from Central Mongolia eastwards. Winters in South China and SE Asia.

Life cycle

Summer breeder, with most of the moult also occurring in summer. The primary moult is quite regularly completed on the wintering grounds.

General

Together with Western Marsh Harrier, the largest and heaviest of the harriers, close to the buzzards, but longer-tailed. Plumage pattern is very variable, and therefore this species is often problematic to identify. Distribution overlaps widely with Pied Harrier, and these two may be difficult to separate. Especially some females have a distinctly heavier body than any Pied, and bill is often distinctly heavier. Juveniles may be very similar to some juvenile and adult female Western Marsh Harriers and also to juvenile Pieds. Adult males are normally the easiest, but some Pieds are not that different, and younger males may be truly difficult. Some extreme adult male Western Marsh come close typical Eastern, and these two hybridise where the breeding areas meet and hybrids may be very difficult to identify.

Adult male

Normally comparatively easy to identify, but very variable. The head may be partly uniform blackish or streaked, and the yellow eye stands out strikingly. Breast streaked black, with variable extent, with the rest of the underbody uniformly pale. The underwing-coverts may be unpatterned whitish or somewhat patterned with brownish or blackish, secondaries and primaries variably barred (vs any plumage of Western, which almost always shows unbarred flight-feathers, especially in plumages even remotely resembling adult male Eastern). Either only the tips of the outer primaries are blackish (vs adult male Western) or the fingers are more extensively blackish, close to the extent of Western - often not uniform black, but with some element of pale barring. The secondaries are pale grey, usually with a dark subterminal bar, but this may be lacking in paler individuals. The upperwing-coverts are very variable: often brownish-black and variegated, some more uniform and paler brown. The typical pattern for both upperwing-coverts and scapulars is a dark, often almost black, pointed centre and pale oval areas on both webs producing the variegated appearance. The tail may be almost unbarred, but often shows a subterminal bar. The rump is white and variably barred.

Younger individuals have more blackish or brownish markings on the wings and show brownish areas on the wing-coverts. If so, they resemble male Western Marsh Harrier, especially from a distance, but always have paler underparts and some bars on the remiges.See also the description of subadult.

From below, older adults may be confusable with adult male Hen Harrier, but many lack the dark trailing edge to the wing. Other birds show a dark trailing edge, but they are more streaked on the head and often also on the underwing-coverts than male Hen.

Adult female

Variable and confusing, but normally easy to distinguish from Western Marsh Harrier. Not always easy to separate from some first-year birds, however. Also some older females may be quite similar to younger males. Head streaked except possibly for a uniform pale brownish area around the eyes (vs Western), and only at most a faint suggestion of a collar (vs Pied). Underbody streaked (vs first year and Western), typically quite uniformly from upper breast to vent, but in many younger individuals the lower underbody more uniformly darkish brown and less streaked or unstreaked, and therefore closer to juveniles in pattern. These younger birds typically also have darker eyes. The streaks closer to the vent are often more distinct than those around the breast (vs Pied which has breast finely streaked and lower parts almost whitish and unstreaked). Underwing-coverts show brown streaks on pale buff background and the axillaries as well as the greater coverts are often barred. Tail, secondaries and primaries barred with a distinctly broader terminal bar (vs first plumage and any plumage of Western). Rump whitish, but with some dark markings, for example brownish bars (more extensively and uniformly whitish in Pied). Eyes yellow in older individuals, dark in younger birds.

Pale internal areas on the remiges and a hint of a breast band may make some individuals resemble Buteo buzzards, but the tail is longer, they lack black carpal patches, the tail barring is different and the hunting style is as in typical harriers.

First-year

Resembles Western Marsh Harrier and some Pied Harriers of the same age. Unlike in Western, first-year and adult female plumages are distinctly different, although younger adult females are still more brownish and juvenile-like than the older ones. The head is mostly pale brownish, this is more restricted to the front of the eyes in the less common darker individuals. (Pied shows more restricted and more clear-cut pale markings on the head and also traces of a collar, and a whitish neck patch, although some darker individuals of both species are quite similar. Western Marsh shows clear-cut pale areas at most on the throat and crown with a black mask between them). A majority shows a pale band across the breast. (Western Marsh may show some traces of a band, but it is far from typical). Underwing- and upperwing-coverts variably and extensively pale brown (less extensively in Western, but some overlap with the darkest Eastern Marsh), some of the inner greater underwing-coverts often largely white, whiter than the buff areas on the head, breast and lesser coverts (Western may show this too, but much less extensively). Even the darker upperwing coverts are somewhat paler than the remiges and show some contrast (less contrast in Western Marsh). Rump varies from whitish (almost uniformly brown in Western) to brownish (Pied has a more extensively white rump). Mostly unbarred flight-feathers (vs adults and Pied), but the base of the tail is paler and may be indistinctly barred, the tip of the tail somewhat darker than the base (uniform in Western Marsh). Primaries largely pale on the undersides (paler than in Western, which only have contrasting pale commas to the bases of the outer primaries), and some indistinct barring on the inner primaries may be visible in a minority of individuals (but finer and less distinct than in most Pied). Sometimes shows an indistinct dark trailing edge to the inner primaries. Secondaries unbarred (vs most Pied).

First-year comparison

Eastern Marsh Harrier is closely related, and often difficult to separate from Western Marsh Harrier, especially when hybrids should be taken into account. Pied Harrier occurs in the same areas and is often problematic too.

Subadult

This species has a complicated plumage maturation in males, and younger females are also quite different looking from older ones - see the description of adult female. However, exact ageing possibly not safe if all juvenile feathers have been moulted. The second generation remiges are greyish in males, but show a dark subterminal bar and some narrower internal bars. Second year males are also less black on the head, scapulars and upperwing-coverts and show more extensive streaking on the underbody than fully adult males. The maturation and variation of males is complicated in the subsequent years as well.

Second-year and other younger males are often difficult to separate from adult female Pied Harriers. They may, for example, show an identical underpart colouration with whitish background and neat, dark brown streaks, and also the colouration of the remiges may be very similar. But in addition to structural differences, their upperwing covert-area is generally more uniformly coloured (see Pied Harrier, adult female), some of the scapular and upperwing-covert feathers are more variegated, and in better views can be seen to have the typical male Eastern Marsh feathers with a pointed dark centre and pale oval areas on both webs. Some Eastern Marsh subadult males may show some kind of a collar, but still have a rather comparatively uniform head pattern (Pied typically has a neat pale collar combined with a narrow brown crescent anterior to it and a pale area just behind the eyes). The flight feathers are variable, but often show some combination not occurring in adult female Pied. Also the undersides of the fingers may be wholly black (barred in adult female Pied), the barring on the secondaries and inner primaries is generally narrower and more irregular, and the tail is typically much less distinctly barred.

Distribution

Breeds from Europe to Central Asia and SW Siberia. Winters from Southern Europe to Indian SC, and widely in Afrotropics.

Life cycle

Summer breeder. Moults mostly late summer – autumn. Normally suspends flight-feather moult for autumn migration.

General

Quite similar to Eastern Marsh Harrier, size and structure very similar, hybridises with that species, and sometimes treated as conspecific. Similarly very variable in colouration. In some plumages, especially first-year, may be difficult to separate from Eastern, but otherwise quite easy to identify. Broader-winged and stronger-bodied than the smaller species, which is normally evident even at quite long distances, although some Hen Harriers may be harder to separate on shape.

Adult male

Normally easy to identify, but very variable. Eyes yellow, breast variably streaked (not so thinly as in Eastern), tail, secondaries, inner primaries, outer greater coverts and primary coverts pale grey (vs adult female) and unstreaked (vs most adult male Eastern), the secondaries may show or lack a darker trailing edge. Underbody at least partly brownish (vs Hen Harrier), and the whole head and underbody may be brown with only some blotching on the breast - these are younger birds. In rare cases, there is very little or no brown on the underbody - these are old individuals. Underwing-coverts vary from extensively brown, usually younger birds, to almost wholly pale grey. Tail uniformly coloured greyish.

In some cases, plumage maturation is delayed and even old males still show immature-looking plumage. In some populations, the majority of males do not reach the true adult-like plumage aspect, but are very variable.

Adult female

May be quite similar to first plumage birds, and variable (but quite different from adult female Eastern), and not possible to age from a distance. Plumage tones often somewhat rufous (blackish brown in first-year birds), but in younger females not much different from first-year birds. In typical individuals there are extensive pale brown areas on the head and the foreparts of the upperwing covert area (first-year birds show golden brown areas on the head and some also in the foreparts of the upperwing-coverts, but less extensively), but in younger adult females they may be more restricted and resemble those of the first-year birds. The best ageing criteria are traces of moult in adult birds: the trailing edge of the wing is somewhat uneven and with less pointed feathers than in juveniles, from above some wing-feathers look browner than the others, or on autumn migration there is active moult in the primaries; or the outer primaries, often only the outermost, is still unmoulted and browner. Note pale eyes in older birds (vs dark in first-year birds). Broader-winged than male and often also single birds sexable on shape with experience.

First-year

Mostly mid-brown overall (adult female may be quite similar). Variable amount of paler brown on head and fore-wing, this may lack completely, but often there are pale brownish on the crown and throat (Eastern shows larger pale areas on average). Unbarred remiges and rectrices (vs Eastern, which shows variable barring). The primaries are uniform dark brown with narrow whitish crescent visible at the bases (larger pale area in Eastern, the primaries may be mainly paleish grey underneath with only black on fingers). The most practical character for separation from adult females is the neat, even trailing edge of the wing.

Subadult

The first moult starts during the summer of the second calendar-year and the second plumage is complete when this moult is finished during the late autumn of 2nd cy. In second-year males, the greyish areas are less extensive, darker and less contrasting than in adult males, on average, but this type of plumage also occurs in older individuals, so no exact ageing is advisable after the last juvenile remiges have been moulted. Second-year females are on average darker and more juvenile-like than older birds, and with darker eyes.

Distribution

Summer breeder in eastern Europe and Central Asia to Mongolia, winters in Africa and Indian SC.

Life cycle

General

One of the smaller and more slender harriers. Narrower-winged than Hen Harrier, with only four distinct finger-like primaries (P7-P10). Shape mostly resembles Montagu's Harrier, and female-type plumages are not straightforward to identify. In Pallid, when perching, wings seem to be slightly shorter and the tail protrudes more, and the legs are longer.

PITFALLS:Hybrids sometimes seen, Pallid has hybridised with both Montagu's and Hen. Black indistinct streaking on the flanks have been considered as hybrid character (with Hen) in juveniles, as does an intermediate primary pattern and a somewhat protruding fifth outermost primary - the latter being the most reliable character, but differences are slight and photographs needed for assessment.

Adult male

Mostly pale bluish-grey. No distinct border between whitish and greyish on the breast (vs Hen in which the head is darker than the breast). The outermost primary is also pale grey, which makes the dark wedge on the outer wing narrower than in Hen. Lacks dark trailing edge to the wing and the pale rump shows broad greyish barring (adult male Hen has broader and more contrasting white rump without barring).

Adult female

Darkish head with narrow white area around the eye (more contrasting than in Hen and Montagu's) and long, normally fairly distinct collar (but not as distinct as in juveniles) with a dark area behind it on the side of the neck (this combination of features separates it from all other harriers). The dark area behind the eye continues down to the gape (in Montagu's it does not reach the gape). Underparts streaked with streaks concentrated to the breast (vs adult female Montagu's, but some Hen quite similar), ground colour buffish, but some are more rufous and can be more similar to juveniles from a distance - these are typically first adult birds. Axillaries and greater underwing-coverts darkish brown, with small, roundish pale spots (larger and more square in adult female Montagu's with pale squares more or less as large as chestnut squares). The undersides of the secondaries are darkish, with a discernible but variable pale bar or two. The primaries are barred so that the darkest bars seem to be on the central part of the hand, while the outermost bar on the trailing edge of the wing is less dark or even absent. Therefore the bases of the primaries often show a pale “boomerang” and the tips are relatively lightly patterned too. The barring of the primaries do not typically seem to be a continuation of the barring on the secondaries, but more irregular (vs Hen). On the upperwing, the secondaries usually do not show any barring (vs adult male Montagu's and Hen).

First-year

Distinct, pale, even and unstreaked collar reaching from the throat to the hindneck and long, narrow whitish area around the eye (vs first-year Montagu's), the collar is bordered in the rear by a dark boa-like area, which is typically extensive and uniform, but is very variable and may be much less distinct and streaked. The yellowish copper-brown underparts to the body are without darker streaking (vs first-year Montagu's which often shows some contrasting dark streaks, and especially Hen which is much more streaked). The secondaries are very dark, but some barring is often visible, typically, one long indistinct pale bar (in Montagu´s, if barring is visible, then typically it shows as two indistinct pale bars). The primary barring can be used as a field mark in much the same way as in adult females - concentrated to the middle of the wing, with a pale crescent at the base, and the trailing edge less dark - but in young birds the barring is often more regular and more difficult to distinguish from Montagu's. Fingers are barred, or unbarred with only tips dark (a majority of juvenile Montagu's have totally dark fingers).

Subadult

In spring of the second calendar-year both males and females are often quite similar to autumn juveniles, but bleached and worn. Some have moulted new feathers, but on average less extensively than Montagu´s.

Second calendar-year males resemble adult males after the moult is finished in autumn, but show some signs of immaturity, especially indistinct brownish head patterns, brownish colouring on the upperparts, indistinct darkish trailing edge to the wing, which may cause confusion with Hen Harriers, and small black spots on the underwing-coverts. Older males may also show some darker markings, which disappear with age.

Distribution

Breeds from most of Europe except British Isles and the northern parts to Central Asia, winters mostly in tropical Africa but also in parts of the Indian SC.

Life cycle

Summer breeder. Moult commences during summer, suspends for autumn migration and is completed in the wintering areas. The first moult starts already during the first winter, when a variable number of body feathers are moulted, and continues until the next winter.

General

The smallest and most slender of the harriers. The active flight is light and buoyant. Wings are long and narrow, legs slender. In shape quite similar to Pallid Harrier, and the two are often best separated using colour patterns. Narrower body, especially rear body, is sometimes evident, but young birds more similar in shape. Also, the wings are slightly more even in width, the head is smaller, legs shorter and wings longer, which is best seen when perched when the wingtips almost reach the tail end.

There is a detail in the primaries which is sometimes possible to see in very good photos of wing tip from above: the emargination on the outer web of the next outermost primary is shorter than in the other two species and does not reach the primary coverts (in Pallid and Hen it reaches the primary coverts).

General comparison

Montagu's and Pallid in their brown plumages are the most difficult harriers in the region to separate from each other. The pattern on the undersides of the wings is one of the key differences.

Adult male

Pale grey with reddish streaking on underbody and underwing-coverts, much black on the wing-tip, one black bar at the bases of the secondaries on the upperwing and two on the underwing (vs Pallid and Hen Harrier). Central tail feathers unbarred but the other tail feathers show more distinct and more rufous barring than in the other species.

Adult female

Head patterned but lacking contrast, with lots of pale around eye, and no distinct collar. Underparts evenly streaked rufous-brown (in Pallid, streaks are more concentrated to the breast) , underwing-coverts with barring, rufous squares pattern, of the same colour (more uniform brown in Hen and Pallid, with less barring).The black bars on the secondaries are strong and clear-cut and, from below, the pale area between the outermost and the next is especially distinct (narrower and less contrasting in Pallid). The outermost bar is slightly less black than the two inner ones. Primaries barred regularly and evenly, also the bar at the trailing edge of the inner secondaries is dark and clear-cut (paler in Pallid, paler than the inner bars). Upperparts greyish-brown, with small streaks on the uppertail-coverts. On the upperwing, secondaries are brownish-tinged with discernible dark basal and terminal bars (uniformly dark in Pallid). Median and lesser coverts show broad pale brown fringes, which coalesce into a pale patch on a flying bird. Eyes yellow in older females, but remain dark for some time in younger birds.

First-year

More whitish around the eyes than in Pallid. The foremost area of the ear-coverts is contrasting, but not very extensive and typically not reaching the bill. They usually do not show a collar, but many birds have an indistinct pale collar between two dark brown areas, the rear of which is normally not uniformly dark, but somewhat streaked and not contrasting or extensive. In some the collar is more distinct, but uneven and shorter than in Pallid and typically the same colour as the underparts. Unbarred orange-brown underparts (as in Pallid but on average more orange) and many show slight black streaking on flanks (unstreaked in Pallid, but may be somewhat blotched). Underwing-coverts are of the same colour as the belly and almost unstreaked. Secondaries very dark underneath (even darker than in Pallid and, especially, Hen), but some have paler base colour with dark bands visible. Primary pattern varies, but shows broadly black fingers tips and contrasting dark tips on the inner primaries (both paler in Pallid which shows bars on the fingered area). Inner parts of primaries may be largely whitish, especially in males, or quite regularly and evenly, but thinly barred (more regularly than in Pallid). Upperparts are quite dark brown (as in Pallid, darker than Hen), feathers showing orange fringes, which are widest on the lesser upperwing-coverts showing as a patch from a distance. By spring, most have moulted many body-feathers and have acquired distinct streaks on the underparts, and often also diagnostic patterning on the underwing-coverts. Eyes dark in females throughout the first year, but become paler in males quite early.

Subadult

The second plumage, when complete, is quite adult-like. However, the first moult takes a long time and a wide array of different plumage aspects are seen while moulting. The first new feathers are often axillaries and body feathers, which appear towards the end of the first calendar-year. The first new feathers of male type appearing during the winter and spring are variable, greyish, but of intermediate aspect and not wholly adult male-like. The moult is not completed before the autumn of the second calendar-year and some feathers, for example secondaries, may be left until December.