Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 18.1–19.7 in
46–50 cm - Wingspan
- 40.2–46.5 in
102–118 cm - Weight
- 10.6–26.5 oz
300–750 g
Other Names
- Hen Harrier (British), Marsh Hawk
- Busard Saint-Martin (French)
- Aguilucho pálido, Gavilán rastrero, Gavilán sabanero (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- Most male Northern Harriers are mated to one or two females at the same time. Some males pair with up to five mates in a season. Females incubate the eggs and brood the offspring, while the male provides the bulk of the food for his mates and their nestlings.
- Unlike other hawks, the Northern Harrier relies on its hearing as well as its vision to capture prey. The feathers of the face are stiff to help transmit sound, and it shows a pronounced "facial disk," much like that of an owl.
- The Northern Harrier feeds primarily on mice, other small mammals, and small birds. It will, however, take larger prey, such as rabbits and ducks. It has been known to subdue large prey by drowning it.
Habitat
Grassland
Open wetlands, meadows, pastures, prairies, grasslands, croplands, and riparian woodlands.
Food
Mammals
Small mammals, birds, reptiles, and frogs.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 2–10 eggs
- Egg Description
- White and unspotted.
- Condition at Hatching
- Covered in white down, with eyes open.
Nest Description
Platform of vegetation placed on ground in open field or meadow.
Nest Placement
Ground
Behavior
Soaring
Hunts on wing, flying low over open habitats.
Conservation
Least Concern
Populations declined in 20th century from loss of wetlands and changes in farming practices. Now stable or slightly declining in most areas.
Credits
- MacWhirter, R. B., and K. L. Bildstein. 1996. Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus). In The Birds of North America, No. 210 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.