Harrier

One species in North America with long narrow wings, long tail, and brilliant white rump. Harriers have a unique owl-like facial disk unlike other diurnal raptors. Often seen with a distinctive teetering buoyant flight, it can also alter its shape to look like other raptors in-flight. Often seen flying low over marshes and grasslands in search of small mammals, being sometimes called “marsh hawk”.

CGORS has trapped and processed 647 Northern Harriers since 1954. The breakdown for birds with a recorded age/sex are as follows:

Immature Females: 227
Immature Males: 321
Adult Females: 55
Adult Males: 40