Northern Harrier

This Northern Harrier spent quite a bit of time flying around the pastures this afternoon. My Kerrville Area Bird Guide says this hawk is not seen here except occasionally in winter.



The Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus), also called a Marsh Hawk (or Hen Hawk in Europe) is a long winged, long-tailed hawk of open grassland and marshes. Male and female Northern Harriers, unlike most hawks, look quite different. This is a female. (Males are white below with a light gray back and hood.) Both sexes have the conspicuous white rump which is easily seen in flight.

Northern Harriers forage by flying low and slow above the ground. Unlike other hawks, they depend heavily on hearing, as well as their excellent eyesight for hunting. They have a "facial disk" with ruffled feathers like that of an owl which they can stiffen and move to direct sound toward their ears.

Diet consists mainly of mice, voles, and other small mammals. Occasionally, they also eat small birds, rabbits, or ducks.

The genus name, Circus, comes from the Greek word kirkos which describes the way the Northern Harrier flies in low circles. Cyaneus refers to the male's blue-gray color. The common name "harrier" comes from the Old English word "herigan" which means to harass or plunder.