Northern Harrier

The Northern Harrier is a distinctive, slender hawk of open country, easily recognized by its low, buoyant flight just above the vegetation and its flat, owl-like facial disc, which helps it locate prey by sound as well as sight. Males are pale gray above with a white belly and black wingtips, earning them the nickname "gray ghost," while females and juveniles are brown with streaked underparts.

Both sexes and all ages share a conspicuous white patch at the base of the tail, one of the most reliable field marks for the species, visible from a considerable distance.

Key field marks

• White patch at the base of the tail (rump), visible in flight at all ages
• Flat, owl-like facial disc
• Long wings and tail, low gliding flight held in a shallow V (dihedral)
• Male: pale gray above, white below, black wingtips
• Female/juvenile: brown above, streaked buffy-brown below

Similar species

Rough-legged Hawk and other buteos have broader wings, soar higher, and lack the harrier's characteristic low, tilting flight and white rump. Short-eared Owl shares open habitat and low flight but has a rounder head, shorter wings held flat, and different, more erratic moth-like flight.

Habitat

Favors wide-open habitats: freshwater and coastal marshes, wet meadows, grasslands, and agricultural fields, generally avoiding wooded areas.

Range

Breeds across much of Canada and the northern United States, with additional breeding range in parts of the western and central U.S. Northern populations migrate south for winter, when the species can be found across most of the continental United States and into Mexico and Central America.

Behavior

Northern Harriers hunt by flying low and slow over open ground, tilting from side to side as they scan and listen for prey, then dropping suddenly into vegetation to seize it — a hunting style distinct from most other North American hawks.

Voice

Generally quiet away from the nest; when alarmed, gives a sharp, repeated, whistled "kek-kek-kek."

Feeding and nesting

Diet is mainly small mammals, especially voles, along with small birds. Uniquely among North American hawks, Northern Harriers nest on the ground, building a platform of grasses and reeds hidden in dense marsh or field vegetation; males are often polygynous, mating with more than one female in a season when prey is abundant.