Northern Harriers

A wintering species once known as Marsh Hawks

Recently I shared some photos of a Northern Harrier that I saw at Sweetwater Wetlands. This is a unique raptor species that winters in Tucson every year. I began seeing them in our area in September and below are some photos from September and from November of this year.

Northern Harriers have a low buoyant flight. Sometimes their wings are outstretched, at times they are pulled in, and their wings change shape constantly as they move slowly across the landscape, adjusting their flying needs.

Say the word ‘raptor’ and immediately what comes to mind is a large bird of prey soaring through the air. Yet raptors can spend time perched on a variety of tall things such as trees, shorter things like bushes or fences, and even on the ground. This Northern Harrier was perched on a dried plant atop a short berm in a farm field where it had been hunting. That perch actually gives it a broad view of the surrounding farmland because it is a few feet off the ground, tall enough to allow the bird to be able to survey the expanse of fields. Note its owl-like flattened face and the feathers marking the facial disc.

The Northern Harrier courses over a flat field with the Tucson Mountains in the distant background.

When the Harrier hears or spots prey, it will do a sudden wing-over and drop straight down, diving towards the unsuspecting prey. This shot gives us a chance to be able to see the dorsal, or upper, side of the bird’s wings and back.

Some raptors hunt from a perch. Some hunt from a soar. Northern Harriers hunt while gliding over a variety of flat habitats with low vegetation. In our area, agricultural lands are perfect places for them to find food. They can patrol the fields in a slow-motion, teetering flight.

The Harrier has long wings and a long tail.

Northern Harriers have noticeable white rump patches. These birds don’t seem to need to look in the direction they are flying. They fly on autopilot while they closely search the ground below them.

Tucson Bird Alliance has a nice piece about these special ‘snowbirds’. You can read more about Northern Harriers at AllAboutBirds.