Northern Harrier

Circus cyaneusOrder: FALCONIFORMES Family: Kites, Eagles and Hawks (Accipitridae)

Codes: Common Name: NOHA Scientific Name: CIRCYA ITIS Taxonomic No.: 175430

Head

Topo Map: Hawk-like Head

Bill Shape: Hooked
Eye Color: Adult males, iris and edge of eyelid are lemon to orange yellow. In females, iris remains brown with yellow flecks in the first year; by end of second calendar year, 50% yellow; by end of third year, mostly yellow.
Head Pattern: Eyeline, Special (unique patterns or features)
Crown Color: Gray
Forehead Color: Dark Brown
Nape Color: Gray
Throat Color: White
Cere color: Buff

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Body

Topo Map: Hawk-like Body

Length Range: 41-61 cm (16-24 in)
Weight: 357 g (12.6 oz)
Size: Size 4. Large (16 - 32 in)
Color: White, Brown, Black, Gray
Underparts: White
Upperparts: Dark Gray
Back Pattern: Solid
Belly Pattern: Solid
Breast Pattern: Spotted or speckled

Flight

Topo Map: Hawk-like Flight

Flight Pattern: Several deep wing beats alternate with long glides.
Wingspan Range: 97-122 cm (38-48 in)
Wing Shape: Broad-Wings, Long-Wings
Tail Shape: Squared Tail
Tail Pattern: Large gray or dark brown bands.
Upper Tail: Gray with darker bands.
Under Tail: White with dark bands.
Leg Color: Yellow

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Northern Harrier

Northern Harrier: Large hawk with gray upperparts, distinct white rump, and white underparts with spotted breast. Hooked bill is dark, yellow at base. Eyes are yellow. Wings are long, gray above, and white below with black tips. Legs, feet are yellow. Alternates several deep wing beats with glides.

● Song: "kek, kek, kek", "keee, keee, keee"

● Foraging & Feeding: Northern Harrier: Eats mostly mice, but also takes insects and small reptiles. Glides close to ground when hunting, diving down quickly to capture prey.

● Breeding & nesting: Northern Harrier: Three to nine pale blue eggs, sometimes spotted with brown, are laid in a ground nest made of sticks and lined with grass, usually built on a raised mound of dirt or a clump of vegetation; often nests in loose colonies of 15 to 20 pairs. Incubation ranges from 31 to 32 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Northern Harrier: Rough-legged Hawk has broader wings and black subterminal tail band.

Flight Pattern

Several deep wing beats alternate with long glides.

● Range & Habitat: Northern Harrier: Breeds from Alaska to the northern U.S. Spends winters from the southern U.S. to Central America. Preferred habitats include open fields, savannas, meadows, and marshes.

^BreedingSolitary nester, Some monogamous

^PopulationDeclining

^MigrationSome migrate

^Weight12.6 Ounces

Hawk-like Head

Hawk-like Body

Hawk-like Flight

4 and 6 letter alpha codes

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

Field Guide to Birds of North America