There are several different harrier species but only The Northern Harrier is indigenous to North America. The bird is about 24 inches tall when standing and while in flight it has a wingspan of about four feet. Male Northern Harriers weigh about 3/4 of a pound while the larger female weigh about one and one half pounds.
The trunk of the bird is slim with a long tail and yellow legs. The face of the Northern Harrier is similar to an owl, yellow eyes and a noticeable white patch on its bottom. Adult males have a grayish blue back and white on its chest and stomach. The females have a mahogany colored back and yellowish brown breast and belly. Also the female has brown stripes along its sides of the chest and flanks. Immature Northern Harriers, both male and female have dark reddish-brown backs and cinnamon colored chest and belly, without stripes. Black bands stretch across the long tail that the bird extends while in flight aiding to identification of this magnificent flyer.
Their usual habitat is near open marsh and open pastures. In one study, observation of the Northern Harrier occurred principally in upland plains neighboring shallow wetlands. Scientists noted that the largest number of Northern Harrier seen were near moderately grazed grasslands on the Northern Great Plains. Other birders found more harrier's nests on grasslands that animals didn't graze than on yearly grazed prairie in South Dakota. A birder reported that Northern Harrier was a local summer resident in tall grasslands, especially near water, in western Kansas.
Even though man destroyed and drained grasslands and wetlands there was little negative impact on harriers. Where trees began to grow on wetlands the area became less attractive to the birds for nesting.
Hawk watches that net birds for leg banding trapped some birds that had leg bands put on them sixteen years previously.
Their diet consists of small animals like mice, amphibians like frogs and snakes, crayfish and they will catch and eat small birds.
In some states and provinces the Northern Harrier is considered endangered.
The Northern Harrier is present throughout the United States, Canada and Alaska. Across the big pond you will find the Northern harrier in Europe and Asia. In some cases the harrier will stay in its nesting range even in the winter months. Usually they migrate south into Mexico, Central America, Northwestern South America and the West Indies.
