UK's rarest breeding bird nests in secret location and rears six chicks

By the Editorial Team · Monday, August 24, 2026

For the second year in a row, Montagu’s harrier successfully raised six chicks at a confidential farmland site in England, with a single male mating with two females and producing two nests. This marks important progress in the conservation of the UK’s rarest breeding bird, supported by protective measures and satellite tracking to enhance understanding of their migration and survival.

For the second consecutive year, the United Kingdom’s rarest breeding bird, the Montagu’s harrier, has successfully reared six chicks at a confidential farmland location in England, according to conservationists.

The male harrier, identified as “AU” and ringed as a chick in Wiltshire in 2016, mated with two different females this breeding season, establishing two nests located close to each other. Each nest produced three chicks, all of which were carefully monitored and ringed in mid-July. This represents a significant conservation achievement, following the first successful UK breeding of the species in 2022, when four chicks were raised at the same site.

Montagu’s harriers are migratory birds that spend winters in Africa before returning to Europe to breed, typically choosing agricultural fields such as winter-sown cereal crops for nesting. Historically, the species has been uncommon as a UK breeder. In 2011, nine successful nests were recorded, but no breeding success was documented from 2020 to 2024. The bird was added to the conservation red list in 2021 due to its vulnerability.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), which has been overseeing the conservation effort, credited the protection of the nests through fences designed to deter predators such as foxes. This ongoing collaboration between conservationists and local farmers has been pivotal to the birds’ breeding success.

In an innovative step for UK conservation, two of the juvenile female harriers were each fitted with lightweight satellite tags costing £3,000. These devices are expected to provide detailed data on the birds’ migration patterns, tracking their approximately 7,000-mile journey back to West Africa. The information gained is anticipated to improve understanding of their survival rates and migration timing.

Mark Thomas, Montagu’s harrier species lead at the RSPB, described the male harrier AU’s efforts as critical to the species’ survival in the UK, noting his ability to attract two new breeding partners following his display flights in May. Thomas also acknowledged the combined efforts of farmers, conservationists, and sponsors in supporting the species.

Conservation groups are encouraging the public, particularly birdwatchers, to report any sightings of the other juvenile birds without satellite tags by contacting the RSPB’s Montagu’s harrier hotline. This citizen science initiative aims to assist researchers in tracking the movements of all fledglings as they prepare to migrate south.

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