- Lifespan
- 12–17 years in the wild, though average is shorter due to persecution
- Size & Weight
- 43–51 cm, wingspan 97–118 cm; males 330–360 g, females 580–680 g
- Habitat
- Open moorland, grassland, heathland, and young conifer plantations where small mammals and birds are abundant.
- UK Distribution
- Historically bred throughout the UK, now confined mainly to upland areas of Scotland, with small breeding populations in England and Wales; winter visitors also arrive from continental Europe.
- Diet
- Small mammals, particularly voles, shrews, and mice, supplemented by small birds such as pipits, larks, and waders.
- Prey
- Short-tailed voles, wood mice, shrews, meadow pipits, skylarks, red grouse chicks, partridges
- Predators
- Golden eagles, peregrine falcons, and ground predators such as foxes and corvids targeting eggs and chicks; persecution by humans remains a significant threat
- Mating Season
- April to July
- Breeding
- Clutch size 4–5 eggs, incubation period 29–30 days, fledging at 35–42 days; typically one brood per year. Males perform distinctive sky-dancing displays.
- Behaviour
- Males perform spectacular aerial displays, rolling and diving with raised wings during courtship. They hunt by quartering low over open ground with characteristic buoyant, gliding flight. Females are larger and more aggressive than males, and may hunt larger prey.