FeatherScan logo
FeatherScan
Overview
Northern harrier

Northern harrier

Wikipedia

The northern harrier, also known as the marsh hawk or ring-tailed hawk, is a bird of prey. It breeds throughout the northern parts of the Northern Hemisphere in Canada and the northernmost United States.

Loading map...

Distribution

Region

North America

Typical Environment

Breeds across Alaska, Canada, and the northern United States in open wetlands, prairies, and tundra-like habitats. In winter it migrates south through much of the United States into Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. It favors large expanses of open country with low vegetation, including marshes, hayfields, and coastal grasslands. Ground-nesting sites are typically in dense sedges, grasses, or reed beds, often near wetlands. Winter roosts may be communal in grasslands and marsh edges.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 2500 m

Climate Zone

Temperate

Characteristics

Size41–52 cm
Wing Span97–122 cm
Male Weight0.35 kg
Female Weight0.55 kg
Life Expectancy12 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Also called the marsh hawk or ring-tailed hawk, the northern harrier hunts by flying low over open habitat with wings held in a shallow V. Its owl-like facial disk helps funnel sound to the ears, aiding it in locating prey hidden in vegetation. Males are pale gray and are often nicknamed the 'gray ghost', while females and juveniles are brown with streaking. A bold white rump patch is a key field mark visible in flight.

Gallery

Bird photo
Bird photo
Bird photo
Juvenile flying at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, USA

Juvenile flying at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, USA

Female in flight at the Llano Seco Unit of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex in California

Female in flight at the Llano Seco Unit of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex in California

Northern harrier male perched on shrub at Point Reyes National Seashore

Northern harrier male perched on shrub at Point Reyes National Seashore

Harrier hunting low to the ground. Southwick, MA

Harrier hunting low to the ground. Southwick, MA

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and territorial

Flight Pattern

low coursing flight with buoyant, tilting glide and short rapid wingbeats; wings held in a shallow dihedral

Social Behavior

Breeds on the ground, with nests hidden in dense marsh or grass. Males may be polygynous, occasionally pairing with multiple females in a season; males provision the incubating female and chicks with prey. Outside the breeding season, multiple birds may roost communally in open fields or marshes.

Migratory Pattern

Partial migrant

Song Description

Vocalizations are mostly sharp kek-kek calls, screams, and chatters used in territorial and courtship contexts. During display flights, males may give rapid, staccato calls. Overall, it is quieter than many other raptors and does not have a melodious song.

Similar Bird Species

Northern hawk-cuckoo
Migratory

Northern hawk-cuckoo

The northern hawk-cuckoo, rufous hawk-cuckoo, or Horsfield's hawk-cuckoo is a bird in the family Cuculidae formerly thought to be conspecific with Hodgson's hawk-cuckoo and placed in the genus Cuculus.

Northern hawk-owl
Resident

Northern hawk-owl

The northern hawk-owl, or northern hawk owl, is a medium-sized true owl of the northern latitudes. It is non-migratory and usually stays within its breeding range, though it sometimes irrupts southward. It is one of the few owls that is neither nocturnal nor crepuscular, being active only during the day. This is the only living species in the genus Surnia of the family Strigidae, the "typical" owls. The species is sometimes called simply the hawk owl; however, many species of owls in the genus Ninox are also called "hawk owls".

Northern house wren
Migratory

Northern house wren

The northern house wren is a very small passerine in the wren family Troglodytidae. It is found in southern Canada, the USA and Mexico. It occurs in most suburban areas in its range. It formerly included many subspecies resident in South America and in the Caribbean that are now considered as separate species. The name troglodytes means "hole dweller", and is a reference to the bird's tendency to disappear into crevices when hunting insects or to seek shelter.

Northern jacana
Resident

Northern jacana

The northern jacana or northern jaçana is a wader which is known as a resident breeder from coastal Mexico to western Panama, and on Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola in the Caribbean. It is sometimes known to breed in Texas, United States, and has also been recorded on several occasions as a vagrant in Arizona. The jacanas are a group of wetland birds, which are identifiable by their huge feet and claws, which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat. In Jamaica, this bird is also known as the 'Jesus bird', as it appears to walk on water.

Northern lapwing
Migratory

Northern lapwing

The northern lapwing, also known as the peewit or pewit, tuit or tewit, green plover, or pyewipe or just lapwing, is a bird in the lapwing subfamily. It is common through temperate Eurosiberia.

Northern long-tailed woodcreeper
Resident

Northern long-tailed woodcreeper

The northern long-tailed woodcreeper is a species of bird in subfamily Dendrocolaptinae of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname.