Northern Harrier Photo Gallery
Adult male
Medium-sized raptor with long, broad wings, a long tail, and a characteristic white rump patch. Adult males are grayish above with a dark trailing edge on the wings.
© Tom Reed / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, March 17, 2018Adult female
Often flies with its broad wings held in a "V". Note long tail. Females are pale below withe brown streaking.
© Song Yu / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 25, 2020Adult female
Note languid wingbeats with wings raised in a dihedral when gliding. Hunts low to the ground, teetering from side-to-side.
© Jerry Liguori / Macaulay LibraryUtah, December 30, 2012Not all videos have soundImmature
Immature birds have an unstreaked cinnamon wash on their belly and a darker brown head. Their flight feathers and tail are banded.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, November 03, 2016Adult male
From below adult males are pale with black wingtips and black-tipped secondaries. Often hovers above prey before pouncing.
© Jerry Liguori / Macaulay LibraryUtah, December 05, 2011Adult female
Hunts for small rodents by gliding low over wetlands or open fields. Northern Harriers often flap intermittently and make sharp turns when flying.
© Eric Liner / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, January 20, 2009Not all videos have soundImmature
Both males and females have a distinctive white rump patch.
© Matt Davis / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 30, 2016Immature
Northern Harriers have an owl-like face that helps them detect prey by ear.
© Samuel Denault / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, October 09, 2020Habitat
Found in open areas such as grasslands, marshes, and fields soaring low over the ground.
© Volker Hesse / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 13, 2017Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites(Order: Accipitriformes, Family: Accipitridae)
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