Rare bird returns

RSPB Scotland is asking people to look out for one of the UK’s rarest birds of prey as they return to their breeding grounds this spring.

Hen harriers are similar to a buzzard but with a slightly slimmer appearance, with long wings and a long tail.

Female and young hen harriers are speckled brown and cream with horizontal stripes on their tails. The most striking feature is the patch of white at their rump. Males are slightly smaller and pale grey with black wing tips.