Characteristics of the Different Raptor Families
Hawk Families
Harriers
- There are 10 species of harriers worldwide; only one species in North America, the northern
harrier.
- The Northern harrier is sometimes called a “marsh hawk.”
- The Northern harrier is a medium-sized, slim raptor with long legs and tail.
- They live in open areas, often hunting in fields, meadows, or marshes.
- This raptor has a distinctive hunting flight called “coursing”, where they fly low over the
ground following the contours of the land and holding the wings in a V-shape.
- It has a white rump patch at the base of the upper tail.
- Unlike other diurnal raptors, this bird has a facial disk which helps to direct sound to the
ears.
- This raptor is a ground nester.
- Diet consists of rodents, small birds, and insects.
- Most species are reverse sexually dimorphic - meaning that the female is larger in size and brown and white in color, and the male is smaller in size and gray and white in color.
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Northern Harrier - NPS photo