Northern Harrier - Circus hudsonius

Length 1.3-1.7 ft (40.6-50.8 cm)
Wingspan 3.2-4.0 ft (96.5-121.9 cm)
Weight 10.2-26.5 oz (290-750 g)
Clutch Size 3-6
Chicks at birth Altricial
IUCN Conservation Status Least Concern
Continents:NA, SA
Videos/Pictures

The Northern Harrier is the only harrier found in North America and is also known as the Marsh Hawk. It used to be considered a subspecies of the Hen Harrier, Circus cyaneus, which is found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. DNA sequencing has placed the Northern Harrier as a distinct species, but there is still some disagreement on this.

The female and male Northern Harriers have different plumage. The male is white and gray, the female brown. A great field marker is the white rump which is obvious in flight. Besides using their eye sight to locate prey, Northern Harriers use their sense of hearing. Their owl-like facial disk aids this.

Juvenile
Picture/image of Northern Harrier
Juvenile
11/08/2007 - Bodega Bay, CA
Juvenile
11/08/2007 - Bodega Bay, CA
Picture/image of Northern Harrier
05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Picture/image of Northern Harrier
Juvenile
11/08/2007 - Bodega Bay, CA
Juvenile
11/08/2007 - Bodega Bay, CA
Picture/image of Northern Harrier
Juvenile Male
09/20/2007 - Bodega Bay, CA
Juvenile Male
09/20/2007 - Bodega Bay, CA
Picture/image of Northern Harrier
Juvenile Male
09/20/2007 - Bodega Bay, CA
Juvenile Male
09/20/2007 - Bodega Bay, CA
Picture/image of Northern Harrier
Juvenile
12/10/2007 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Juvenile
12/10/2007 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Adult
Picture/image of Northern Harrier
Female
05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Female
05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Picture/image of Northern Harrier
Female
05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Female
05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Picture/image of Northern Harrier
Male
11/23/2009 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Male
11/23/2009 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Picture/image of Northern Harrier
Male
11/23/2009 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Male
11/23/2009 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Picture/image of Northern Harrier
Male with the head of some rodent
02/29/2008 - Bodega Bay, CA
Male with the head of some rodent
02/29/2008 - Bodega Bay, CA
Picture/image of Northern Harrier
Male
02/29/2008 - Bodega Bay, CA
Male
02/29/2008 - Bodega Bay, CA
Picture/image of Northern Harrier
Male preening
02/29/2008 - Bodega Bay, CA
Male preening
02/29/2008 - Bodega Bay, CA
Picture/image of Northern Harrier
Male
02/29/2008 - Bodega Bay, CA
Male
02/29/2008 - Bodega Bay, CA
Picture/image of Northern Harrier
Male
03/13/2008 - Wildcat Creek Park, Richmond, CA
Male
03/13/2008 - Wildcat Creek Park, Richmond, CA
Picture/image of Northern Harrier
Female
04/04/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Female
04/04/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Picture/image of Northern Harrier
Female
04/04/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Female
04/04/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Picture/image of Northern Harrier
She was eating -- the prey is hidden by the grasses
02/28/2010 - Sacramento Wildlife Refuge, CA
She was eating -- the prey is hidden by the grasses
02/28/2010 - Sacramento Wildlife Refuge, CA

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