Size: Buzzard-sized (L39‒50cm)
Life expectancy: 13‒16 years
Distribution: 300‒400 pairs
Breeding: Breeds in open moorland, cornfields or heathland. Pairs gather in a small colony. The nest is usually built by the female. It is a rather flat structure on the ground made of reed stems, branches and grasses, covered with smaller grasses. Montagu's Harrier lays eggs once a season. Usually 4‒5, sometimes 3‒10 eggs are laid. Places in an interval of 1.5‒3 days. The female incubates the eggs, while the male takes care of the food. It takes about 27‒40 days to hatch the entire clutch. Only the female feeds the young for the first 3 weeks. The chicks begin to fly after 35‒40 days, and after another 10 days they become completely independent.
Appearance: Gray hawk-like bird with spikey and very long wings, it has a long tail. Belly and armpits with brown stripes. Wings with four fingers, black wrists. The wings from the top and the body are grey with black tips. A characteristic black stripe along the length of the wings up to the black wrists. Eyes and legs are very light-colored, yellow. The female is brown-spotted.