General

Northern Harrier: Large hawk with gray upperparts, distinct white rump, and white underparts with spotted breast. Eyes are yellow. Wings are long, gray above, and white below with black tips. Female is larger, brown overall, with white rump and underwing stripes. Juveniles resemble adult female but are cinnamon below. Commonly seen gliding low in search of prey.

Range and Habitat

Northern Harrier: Breeds from Alaska to the northern U.S. Spends winters from the southern U.S. to Central America. Preferred habitats include open fields, savannas, meadows, and marshes.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"kek, kek, kek", "keee, keee, keee"

Interesting Facts

 Unusual among hawks, Northern Harriers use their sense of hearing to help locate prey. They have an owl-like facial disk to help with directional hearing and soft feathers for a quieter flight.

 Their species name, Circus cyanus, comes from the Greek word “kirkos”, meaning circle and the word “cyan” which is a shade of blue. These refer to the Northern Harrier’s flight pattern while hunting and the color of the male bird.

 The common name, Harrier, is from the Old English word “herigan” and means to harass or plunder.

 A group of harriers has many collective nouns, including a "swarm" and a "harassment" of harriers.

Author

Gary Owen Dick