Species BirdsNorthern Harrier

Northern Harrier

Circus hudsonius

CommonBird
Illustration of Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)

The Northern Harrier is the only hawk that regularly hunts by sound as well as sight, using a facial disc like an owl to funnel sound. It flies low over marshes and meadows, tilting on bowed wings and dropping suddenly on prey. The gray male and brown female look so different they were once considered separate species; both show a distinctive white rump patch.

Habitat
Open marshes, grasslands, and agricultural fields
Diet
Voles, mice, small birds, and frogs
How common
Common

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