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Northern harrier Photo by Don Baccus
Circus cyaneus

Hear the harrier's call

AKA: Marsh hawk; blue hawk (male)

SIZE: 16 to 18 inches

WINGSPAN: 38 to 48 inches

FLIGHT SPEED: 24 to 38 MPH

FEEDING HABITS: Flies close to the ground when feeding. Will also hunt from low perch. Eats mice, rats, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Will hover in front of grassfire to catch escaping mice.

IDENTIFICATION: Long tail like an accipiter. Slender wings usually held slightly up in "V" shape. Male is dark grey above and pale below with wingtips that appear to have been "dipped in ink". Female has brown upper parts and brown-streaked underside. Juvenile similar to female but reddish below. All have white rump patch and owl-like facial disk.

3 photos by G. Mink