ADW: Circus cyaneus: INFORMATION

Circus cyaneusnorthern harrier(Also: hen harrier; marsh hawk)

By Brian Limas

Geographic Range

Northern harriers are found throughout the northern hemisphere. In the Americas they breed throughout North America from Alaska and Canadian provinces south of tundra regions south as far as Baja California, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, and North Carolina. They are only rarely seen breeding in parts of the Atlantic coastal states, such as Vermont, Rhode Island, and Maine and are similarly rare in the arid and mountainous western interior, including most of California, Oregon, and Washington. Their winter range is from southern Canada to the Caribbean and Central America. (Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996)

In the Palearctic, northern harriers breed throughout Eurasia, from Portugal in the west, to Lapland and Siberia in the north, and east through China. They winter in northern African and tropical Asia. (Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996)

Biogeographic Regions
nearctic
- native
palearctic
- native
oriental
- native

Other Geographic Terms
holarctic

Habitat

Northern harriers are found mainly in open habitats such as fields, savannas, meadows, marshes, upland prairies, and desert steppe. They also occur in agricultural areas and riparian zones. Densest populations are found in large expanses of undisturbed, open habitats with dense, low vegetation. In eastern North America northern harriers are found most frequently in wetland habitats. In western North America they are most abundant in upland habitats such as desert steppe. Northern harriers avoid forested and mountainous areas. (Eastman, 1999; Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996; Wheeler and Clark, 1987)

Habitat Regions
temperate
tropical
terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes
savanna or grassland
chaparral

Wetlands
marsh

Other Habitat Features
agricultural
riparian

Physical Description

Northern harriers have several characteristics which distinguish them from other birds. Specialized feathers around their face in the shape of a disk focus sound into their ears. Their wings form a dihedral when in gliding flight, and they have a distinctive white rump patch which is obvious during flight. (Wheeler and Clark, 1987)

Adult harriers have yellow eyes. Adult males are gray on their dorsal side. Ventrally, they are white, except for spots on their chest, and black wingtips. Adult females are a brown color, except for underneath their wings, where there are white stripes. Immature males and females resemble the adult female, but they have a darker shade of brown covering the dorsal side and a brownish rusty color underneath. Immature harriers have brown eyes. (Wheeler and Clark, 1987)

The length of adult males varies between 41 and 45 cm (16 to 18 in). The length of adult females varies between 45 and 50 cm (18 to 20 in). Typically the wingspan of adult males varies between 97 and 109 cm (38 to 43 in). The wingspan of adult females varies between 111 and 122 cm (44 to 48 in). The weight of adult males is approximately 290 to 390 grams(1/2 to 1 lb). The average weight of adult females is approximately 390 to 600 grams(1 to 1.3lbs). (Wheeler and Clark 1995,Weidensaul 1996,Ryser 1985,Wheeler and Clark 1987) (Wheeler and Clark, 1987)

Other Physical Features
endothermic
homoiothermic
bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism
female larger
sexes colored or patterned differently

Range mass

290 to 600 g

10.22 to 21.15 oz
Range length

41 to 50 cm

16.14 to 19.69 in
Range wingspan

340 to 384 mm

13.39 to 15.12 in

Reproduction

Adult males show interesting behaviors during mating season. During mating season the male courts the female by flying high in the air and then dives down twirling and spinning. Males are sometimes polygynous and have 1 to 3 mates. During incubation the male provides food for the female, but he doesn't approach the nest. When he is near the nest he will call out, and as she comes to him he drops the food to her. During the breeding season northern harriers become very territorial and will attack other hawks, birds, or humans that approach their nesting areas. (Burton and Burton, 1989; Chinery, 1992; Eastman, 1999; Ryser, 1985)

Most males are monogamous, although some males are polygynous, having been known to pair with up to five mates in a season. Females are monogamous. This is due, not only to the female-biased sex ratio, but also to the abundance of food during the spring. (Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996)

Mating System
monogamous
polygynous

Eggs are laid from mid-May to early June. They are white with a blue tint, and occasionally have brown spots. The eggs are approximately 47 x 36mm. Three to five eggs are laid, and incubation is only by the female. (Baicich and Harrison, 1997; Burton and Burton, 1989; Eastman, 1999; Terres, 1980; Wheeler and Clark, 1987)

The eggs hatch in approximately 31 to 32 days. Male harriers will contribute to the feeding of their offspring during the time they are in the nest and will watch over the nest for a maximum of 5 minutes when the female is away. (Baicich and Harrison, 1997; Burton and Burton, 1989; Eastman, 1999; Terres, 1980; Wheeler and Clark, 1987)

Key Reproductive Features
iteroparous
gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
sexual
oviparous

Breeding interval

Northern harriers breed once per season.
Breeding season

Primary females breed from April through July, while secondary females breed from May through September.
Range eggs per season

3 to 5
Average eggs per season

4.4
Average eggs per season

5

AnAge
Range time to hatching

28 to 36 days
Range fledging age

30 to 35 days
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)

2 years
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Sex: female

365 days

AnAge
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)

3 years
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
Sex: male

365 days

AnAge

Female investment in her offspring begins with the provisioning of yolk to her eggs. After laying, the female will spread her wings to shelter her young from rain and extreme sun. Her mate will provide food for her for about two weeks after the eggs hatch, then departs. Food is transferred to the female via the male by aerial-pass, and then the female feeds her young. When young reach fledgling stage and are able to fly sufficiently well, food transfer is made to them by their mother, also via aerial-pass. (Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996; Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996; Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996)

Parental Investment
altricial
pre-fertilization
- provisioning
pre-hatching/birth
- provisioning
  - male
  - female
- protecting
  - male
  - female
pre-weaning/fledging
- provisioning
  - male
  - female
- protecting
  - female
pre-independence
- provisioning
  - female
- protecting
  - female

Lifespan/Longevity

There is very little information known concerning the lifespan of northern harriers. The longest lifespan reported is 16 years and 5 months. The average lifespan, however, is 16.6 months. The oldest reported breeding female was 8 years old.

Range lifespan
Status: wild

16.19 (high) years
Average lifespan
Status: wild

16.6 months
Average lifespan
Status: wild

197 months

Bird Banding Laboratory

Behavior

Besides flying, northern harriers walk and hop. They use this method of locomotion while retrieving prey, collecting nesting materials, and retrieving nestlings that have strayed from the nest. (Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996; Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996)

Harriers typically fly slow and low to the ground, gliding often, and sometimes seeming to hover. They occasionally soar. Males fly faster and are more agile in flight than either females or juveniles and have been seen overtaking prairie falcons. (Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996; Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996)

Northern harriers may nest alone or in loose assemblages. Territorial behavior is minimal especially during the breeding season, except at the nest site where both males and females will defend their territory against conspecific intruders. In winter, however, females aggressively exclude males from prime feeding territories. Despite this strong territoriality on the part of females, individuals of both sexes roost on the ground communally during the non-breeding season. During migration, northern harriers, like other raptors, prefer not to fly over open water. (Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996)

Northern harriers are active during the day and spend much of their time hunting.

Key Behaviors
flies
glides
diurnal
motile
migratory

Range territory size

1.7 to 150 km^2

Home Range

During breeding season both sexes tend to be territorial around the nests, but otherwise, home ranges tend to overlap. Monogamous male territories tend to be approximately 260 ha (2.6 km square) in size, ranging from 170 (1.7 km square) to 15,000 (150 km square) ha. (Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996)

Communication and Perception

Northern harriers are especially vocal around the nest. Sounds of courtship are reflected by rapid kek, quik, or ek notes in series. Calls of distress are urgent and high pitched, also in rapid succession. This call is more nasal-sounding in males than in females. (Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996)

There also exists a "food call", which is observed most frequently during breeding season. Females issue a piercing eeyah, eeyah scream, which may be repeated for several minutes. This is responded to by a barely audible purrduk chuckle by the male, which solicits the female from the nest. (Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996)

Young harriers emit a "begging call" when they hear their parents or in response to seeing their parents fly overhead. This sound is often referred to as a pain call, and it is a series of chit notes. This sound only becomes more emphatic with increasing age. (Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996)

Northern harriers, like most raptors, have a keen sense of vision. Northern harriers are unusual in that their owl-like facial ruff enhances their sense of hearing, which they use extensively in finding prey. (Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996)

Communication Channels
visual
acoustic

Perception Channels
visual
tactile
acoustic
chemical

Food Habits

The diet is variable, depending on dominant prey types in the area. In areas with large populations of small mammals, they make up 95% of the diet. In northern grasslands, the diet may be almost exclusively Microtus voles. Northern harriers also eat other small vertebrates, including snakes, frogs, passerine birds, and small waterfowl. When hunting for food, harriers glide at a slow pace close to the ground until prey is found. Harriers then dive quickly to capture it. They may also hide in vegetation, waiting to pounce on prey. They sometimes store extra prey to eat later. (Dechant, et al., 1998; Eastman, 1999; Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996; Wheeler and Clark, 1987)

Primary Diet
carnivore
- eats terrestrial vertebrates

Animal Foods
birds
mammals
amphibians
reptiles

Foraging Behavior
stores or caches food

Predation

Northern harriers have many predators, including raccoons, skunks, American crows, common ravens, coyotes, feral dogs, red foxes, and great horned owls. American crows and common ravens prey on eggs, while other raptors, especially great horned owls, target nestlings. (Burton and Burton, 1989; Chinery, 1992; Eastman, 1999; Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996; Ryser, 1985)

Northern harriers with young generally respond aggressively to predators. Defense ranges from aggressive distress calls to striking the intruder with closed talons. Males and females contribute equally to defense. (Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996)

Northern harriers often compete with short eared owls for the same food source. Food shortages can occur because both hunt the same prey. Northern harriers have a tendency to steal prey away from short eared owls by harassing them until the owl drops its prey. Short eared owls have been known to hunt both at night and during the day, while northern harriers hunt only during the day. (Burton and Burton, 1989; Chinery, 1992; Eastman, 1999; Ryser, 1985)

Known Predators
- American crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
- common ravens (Corvus corax)
- coyotes (Canis latrans)
- great horned owls (Bubo virginianus)
- feral dogs (Canis lupus familiaris)
- striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis)
- red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)
- raccoons (Procyon lotor)

Ecosystem Roles

Predation by northern harriers can have significant effects on populations of field mice and other rodents. (Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996)

As prey, northern harriers provide food for some terrestrial predators, such as coyotes Canis latrans, striped skunks Mephitis mephitis, raccoons Procyon lotor, and red foxes Vulpes vulpes.

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Northern harriers help protect crops by reducing populations of field mice and other rodents. Unlike some other hawk species, they do not attack poultry. (Eastman, 1999; Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996)

Positive Impacts
controls pest population

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

There are no negative affects of northern harriers on humans. (Chinery, 1992; Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996)

Conservation Status

No conservation measures have been enacted specifically for this species, however, conservation measures for waterfowl and habitat management for game birds has increased local numbers of nesting northern harriers. The species is abundant enough to be rated "Least Concern" by the IUCN. It it protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty, and is listed in Appendix II of CITES. (Macwhirter and Bildstein, 1996)

IUCN Red List

Least Concern
More information
IUCN Red List

Least Concern
More information
US Migratory Bird Act

Protected
US Federal List

No special status
CITES

Appendix II

Contributors

Lauren Pajerski (editor), Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, University of Michigan, George Hammond (editor), Animal Diversity Web, Tanya Dewey (editor), Animal Diversity Web.

Brian Limas (author), Fresno City College, Carl Johansson (editor), Fresno City College.

Glossary

Nearctic

living in the Nearctic biogeographic province, the northern part of the New World. This includes Greenland, the Canadian Arctic islands, and all of the North American as far south as the highlands of central Mexico.

World Map

Palearctic

living in the northern part of the Old World. In otherwords, Europe and Asia and northern Africa.

World Map

acoustic: uses sound to communicate

agricultural: living in landscapes dominated by human agriculture.

altricial: young are born in a relatively underdeveloped state; they are unable to feed or care for themselves or locomote independently for a period of time after birth/hatching. In birds, naked and helpless after hatching.

bilateral symmetry: having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.

carnivore: an animal that mainly eats meat

chaparral: Found in coastal areas between 30 and 40 degrees latitude, in areas with a Mediterranean climate. Vegetation is dominated by stands of dense, spiny shrubs with tough (hard or waxy) evergreen leaves. May be maintained by periodic fire. In South America it includes the scrub ecotone between forest and paramo.

chemical: uses smells or other chemicals to communicate

diurnal

active during the day, 2. lasting for one day.

endothermic: animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.

holarctic

a distribution that more or less circles the Arctic, so occurring in both the Nearctic and Palearctic biogeographic regions.

World Map

Found in northern North America and northern Europe or Asia.

iteroparous: offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).

marsh: marshes are wetland areas often dominated by grasses and reeds.

migratory: makes seasonal movements between breeding and wintering grounds

monogamous: Having one mate at a time.

motile: having the capacity to move from one place to another.

native range: the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.

oriental

found in the oriental region of the world. In other words, India and southeast Asia.

World Map

oviparous: reproduction in which eggs are released by the female; development of offspring occurs outside the mother's body.

polygynous: having more than one female as a mate at one time

riparian: Referring to something living or located adjacent to a waterbody (usually, but not always, a river or stream).

sexual: reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female

stores or caches food: places a food item in a special place to be eaten later. Also called "hoarding"

tactile: uses touch to communicate

temperate: that region of the Earth between 23.5 degrees North and 60 degrees North (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.5 degrees South and 60 degrees South (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle).

terrestrial: Living on the ground.

tropical: the region of the earth that surrounds the equator, from 23.5 degrees north to 23.5 degrees south.

tropical savanna and grassland: A terrestrial biome. Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia.
savanna: A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. See also Tropical savanna and grassland biome.
temperate grassland: A terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes (>23.5° N or S latitude). Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands.

visual: uses sight to communicate

References

Baicich, P., C. Harrison. 1997. A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds. New York City, New York, USA: Academic Press.

Burton, M., R. Burton. 1989. Northern harrier. Pp. 1162 in The Marshall Cavendish International Wildlife Encyclopedia, Vol. 10. Toronto, Canada: Marshall Cavendish Corporation.

Chinery, M. 1992. Pp. 144 in The Kingfisher Illustrated Encyclopedia of Animals. New York: Kingfisher Books.

Dechant, J., M. Sondreal, D. Johnson, L. Igl, C. Goldade. 1998. "Effects of management practices on grassland birds: Northern Harrier.." (On-line). Accessed September 15, 2000 at http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/literatr/grasbird/harrier/harrier.htm.

Eastman, J. 1999. Birds of Lake, Pond, and Marsh. Pennsylvania, USA: Stackpole Books.

Macwhirter, R., K. Bildstein. 1996. Northern Harrier. The Birds of North America, 210: 1-25.

Ryser, F. 1985. Birds of the Great Basin- A Natural History. Reno, Las Vegas: University of Nevada Press.

Snyder, N., H. Snyder. 1991. Birds of Prey- Natural History and Conservation of North American Raptors. MN.: Voyageur Press Inc..

Terres, J. 1980. Pp. 483 in The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds. New York: Alfred A.Knoph Inc..

Weidensaul, S. 1996. Raptors-The Birds of Prey. New York: Lyons and Burford.

Wheeler, B., W. Clark. 1995. A Photographic Guide to North American Raptors. San Diego: Academic Press Inc..

Wheeler, B., W. Clark. 1987. The Peterson Field Guide Series- A Field Guide to Hawks of North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

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Additional Information

Circus cyaneusnorthern harrier(Also: hen harrier; marsh hawk)

Geographic Range

Habitat

Physical Description

Reproduction

Lifespan/Longevity

Behavior

Home Range

Communication and Perception

Food Habits

Predation

Ecosystem Roles

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

Conservation Status

Contributors

Glossary

References

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