Birds of prey

The common buzzard (Buteo buteo) is widespread and prominent, soaring in the air

The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Britain's most majestic bird of prey, is confined mainly to Scotland

The goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) is a large but secretive woodland bird of prey

The kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) can be seen hovering at the roadside, but is less common than in the recent past

Hen harriers (circus cyaneus) breed on moorland and winter on more low-lying sites around the country

The hobby (Falco subbuteo) catches dragonflies as well as hirundines such as martins and swallows

Honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus) is a rare breeding visitor that feeds on wasps, bees and their larvae

Marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) has staged a wonderful recovery from five pairs to several hundred

The merlin (Falco columbarius), Britain's smallest falcon, breeds on moorland and in winter can be seen causing panic among waders and waterfowl

Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus) is a very rare breeding visitor at the limit of its northern range

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) has recovered from extinction in the UK to several hundred breeding pairs, mainly in Scotland but also in Wales and England

The emblem of the Hawk and Owl Trust, the Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) is the largest falcon breeding in Britain

Reintroduction of the red kite (Milvus milvus)
to England and Scotland has been one of the major conservation success stories of recent times

The rough-legged buzzard (Buteo lagopus) is an uncommon visitor to Britain which has never bred here

Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) is the bird of prey most likely to be seen in the garden, but is less familiar to many than buzzard or kestrel.

The white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), sometimes known as the sea eagle, is the largest bird of prey in Europe and has been successfully reintroduced to Scotland