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 |
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
Juvenile
11/08/2007 - Bodega Bay, CA
Juvenile
11/08/2007 - Bodega Bay, CA
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05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
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Juvenile
11/08/2007 - Bodega Bay, CA
Juvenile
11/08/2007 - Bodega Bay, CA
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Juvenile Male
09/20/2007 - Bodega Bay, CA
Juvenile Male
09/20/2007 - Bodega Bay, CA
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Juvenile Male
09/20/2007 - Bodega Bay, CA
Juvenile Male
09/20/2007 - Bodega Bay, CA
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Juvenile
12/10/2007 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Juvenile
12/10/2007 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
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Adult
Female
05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Female
05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
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Female
05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Female
05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
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Male
11/23/2009 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Male
11/23/2009 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
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Male
11/23/2009 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Male
11/23/2009 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
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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
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Male
02/29/2008 - Bodega Bay, CA
Male
02/29/2008 - Bodega Bay, CA
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Male preening
02/29/2008 - Bodega Bay, CA
Male preening
02/29/2008 - Bodega Bay, CA
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Male
02/29/2008 - Bodega Bay, CA
Male
02/29/2008 - Bodega Bay, CA
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Male
03/13/2008 - Wildcat Creek Park, Richmond, CA
Male
03/13/2008 - Wildcat Creek Park, Richmond, CA
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Female
04/04/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Female
04/04/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
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Female
04/04/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Female
04/04/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
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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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