Hen Harrier

The harrier part of the Hen Harrier’s name, probably comes from the bird’s low-flying hunting technique, flying low over moorland, etc., to flush up potential prey, by harrying it. There is also an argument that the name derives from the harrier breed of dog, which was traditionally used as a fox- or hare-hunting hound. The Hen in the bird’s name comes from the bird’s predation of Red Grouse (aka ‘moor hens’).