circus hudsonius

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) 1st yr bird.

She was hunting along the shore of a lake, and flew in my direction

A Northern Harrier flying close to the ground looking for prey.

I was less than a quarter mile into my walk when he flew right in front of me!

I was less than a quarter mile into my walk when he flew right in front of me!

I was less than a quarter mile into my walk when he flew right in front of me!

Backlit by the sun, this northern harrier was in the classic hunting stance in flight. This is often how you see harriers - flying low over the grasses, looking down, then suddenly plunging into the grasses and coming up with its prey - anything from a rabbit to a rat to a moorhen.

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) female.

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) juvenile male.

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) male.

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) Female, species sexually dimorphic. Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes Vegetational Area.

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) Male, species sexually dimorphic. Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes Vegetational Area.

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius ) Female, species sexually dimorphic. Photographed in Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Coastal marshes and prairies at 2-3 m (6-10 ft) elevation.

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius ) Male, species sexually dimorphic. Photographed in Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Coastal marshes and prairies at 2-3 m (6-10 ft) elevation.

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius ) Male, species sexually dimorphic. Photographed in Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Coastal marshes and prairies at 2-3 m (6-10 ft) elevation.

Taken at the Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline at 80+m. Was watching an interesting display where there were two birds, one sitting on a fence post, another "dive bombing" the first bird. The fencepost-sitting bird never really reacted and the bird photographed never seemed to...

Northern Harrier

Northern Harrier in flight. Female.

Suddenly the sparrows were gone. I saw a shadow flash by, spun to the left and clicked off a shot, catching just the tail end of what I think must be a Northern Harrier. Yes, I know there should be a white patch on its rump. That may be hidden by the left wing. With the bird gliding so low over...

A juvenile Marsh Hawk (a.k.a. Northern Harrier) hunting a tidal wetland at high tide, hoping for flooded out rodents.

My husband and I continue to go to the Pole Farm at Mercer County Park Northwest in New Jersey and see the owls and harriers. This female swooped by during her hunt last evening. The sun was just in the right spot to highlight her as she flipped.

Northern Harrier juvenile hunting

Northern Harrier juvenile hunting