About This Species
A slender, long-winged hawk that hunts by gliding low over open grasslands and marshes, the Northern Harrier is distinguished by its white rump patch and owl-like facial disk.
Fun Facts
- Owl-like hearing: Has a facial disk similar to owls that helps funnel sound to their ears for hunting by sound.
- Ground nester: One of the few raptors that nests on the ground in dense vegetation.
- Sexual dimorphism: Males are gray while females are brown, leading to the old name "Gray Ghost" for males.
- Low hunting flight: Flies low with wings held in a distinctive V-shape while hunting for small mammals.
