Northern Harrier

Circus cyaneus

Hawk Like

Length: 23 in. (58 cm )

Usually seen soaring low over open fields, marshy areas and prairies, this hawk feeds on small birds, mammals, snakes, frogs, and large insects. It will also eat carrion when available. It uses its disc-like facial feathers to focus sounds and locate prey in dense grassy areas. The nest is an small platform of sticks and grass elevated off the ground in dense grass or marsh vegetation. During the winter this species roosts communally on the ground in groups of 5 to 20 individuals.

The four-digit banding code is NOHA.

Male | Robert Shantz

Female | Robert Shantz

Agricultural

Grasslands

Marsh / swamp

Savanna

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https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/northern-harrier

Bibliographic details:

Article: Northern Harrier
Author(s): Dr. Biology
Publisher: Arizona State University School of Life Sciences Ask A Biologist
Site name: ASU - Ask A Biologist
Date published: 13 Jul, 2017
Date accessed:
Link: https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/northern-harrier

APA Style

Dr. Biology. (Thu, 07/13/2017 - 15:38). Northern Harrier. ASU - Ask A Biologist. Retrieved from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/northern-harrier

American Psychological Association. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/

Chicago Manual of Style

Dr. Biology. "Northern Harrier". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 13 Jul 2017. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/northern-harrier

For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/717/04/

MLA 2017 Style

Dr. Biology. "Northern Harrier". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 13 Jul 2017. ASU - Ask A Biologist, Web. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/northern-harrier

Modern Language Association, 7th Ed. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/

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