Montagu’s harrier (Circus pygnaeus) was named Bird of the Year 2023 through a popular vote. This migratory predator, closely tied to agricultural settings, outpaced two other finalists in an online poll conducted by SEO/BirdLife, a turnout exceeding 7,600 participants.
Recent counts by SEO/BirdLife estimate between 4,269 and 5,360 breeding pairs of Montagu’s Harriers in Spain. The species is listed as Sensitive in Spain’s Red Book of Birds, and the ten-year trend shows a decline of about 23% to 27%.
Across its usual distribution, the sharpest drop occurred in Galicia, Andalusia, Extremadura, Madrid and the Basque Country. Overall, a strong, widespread decline characterizes the western half of the region where the species resides.
Spain remains the country with the largest numbers of Montagu’s Harriers, followed by France with an estimated 3,800 to 5,100 pairs and Poland with 3,000 to 4,000 pairs. Therefore, Spain bears a significant responsibility for the species on a global scale and must act accordingly, according to SEO/BirdLife.
Reasons for the population decline point to agricultural intensification, cereal crop transformations from rain-fed to succulent or woody varieties, pesticide use, early harvests, nest destruction by combines, and the removal of fallows and borders, as reported by SEO/BirdLife.
Ecological value of cereal landscapes
The winner in 2023 received 3,187 votes, while the Egyptian vulture earned 2,355 and the Iberian sand grouse 2,105. These latter two species also face threats and appear in both Spain’s Red Book and the III Atlas of Spanish Birds in the Breeding Season. Some 450 species can be observed across Spain in spring.
Montagu’s Harrier exemplifies the ecological value of grain-growing environments, where fields of wheat and barley sustain this migratory raptor that winters in Africa and can be seen across the Iberian Peninsula from spring through late summer.
The campaign aims to raise awareness among policymakers, farmers and the public about keeping cultivated fields productive for biodiversity, says Asunción Ruiz, executive director of SEO/BirdLife.
Protecting Montagu’s Harrier requires practical solutions that reduce nest destruction during harvest and sustain nests, supporting agricultural systems that foster biodiversity, Ruiz adds.
The conservation group leader emphasizes that protection alone is not enough. Policies and aid must help both the harrier and the farmers who host it on their lands. Legal protection should be complemented by proactive measures.
Ruiz adds that the birds’ message is clear: conservation must translate into action, and safeguarding rural communities is part of the effort.
The call to delay harvest
In exchange for shelter within crops, Montagu’s Harrier preys on voles, mice, grasshoppers, small reptiles and certain carnivorous birds. Early harvests dramatically affect this species, sometimes bringing it into conflict with hunting patterns.
SEO/BirdLife urges a fundamental shift in farming models to protect the harrier. A first step is to persuade regional authorities to adopt agro-environmental measures that benefit Montagu’s Harrier.
To protect nests during harvest, farmers would receive tools, funding and compensation aligned with species conservation goals. The plan also includes agricultural practices in cereal production that extend harvest times, protect field borders or wastelands, and promote biodiversity on at least 10% of cultivated land.
Another threat comes from infrastructure projects. SEO/BirdLife plans to challenge wind and solar installations and new power lines in key areas for the harrier, seeking pauses during the breeding season and evaluating possible complete suspension of activity at times when the species is present in Spain.
The organization may also push for a review of regional species cataloging. In Extremadura, for instance, the suggestion is to adjust the status from Vulnerable to Endangered due to the significant population drop.
Evidence and data on Montagu’s Harrier are maintained by regional and national inventories, with ongoing monitoring to guide policy and land-use decisions.
Further communication and updates follow in the ongoing effort to protect this species within a broader strategy of sustainable farming and rural resilience.