- SCIENTIFIC NAME
- Circus cyaneus
- CLASSIFICATION
- Bird
- LIFE SPAN
- 5-16 Years
- SIZE
- 16-20” | 0.5-1.5lbs
- STATE CONSERVATION STATUS
-
- State Protected
- FEDERAL CONSERVATION STATUS
- Least Concern
- GAME STATUS
- Non-Game
- GAME TYPE
- None
- Washoe
- Humboldt
- Pershing
- Churchill
- Mineral
- Lyon
- Douglas
- Carson City
- Storey
- Elko
- Lander
- Eureka
- White Pine
- Esmeralda
- Nye
- Lincoln
- Clark
Habitat & Range
The Northern Harrier breeds 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 found throughout Nevada and are a staple among open, grassy, and marshy areas.
- Agricultural Lands
- Grasslands
- Marsh
Threats
- Habitat Loss
- Pesticides
Northern Harriers exhibit distinct sexual dimorphism. Adult males are a soft gray above and whitish below, with striking black wingtips, a dark trailing edge on the wings, and a black-banded tail. Females and immature harriers are brown with black bands on their tails. Adult females have whitish undersides with brown streaks, while immatures are more buffy with less streaking.
Northern Harriers exhibit both monogamous and polygynous behaviors, with males sometimes mating with multiple females, while females are typically monogamous. Each breeding pair raises one brood per year, with 4 to 5 dull white eggs. The female incubates the eggs for about 30 to 32 days, and the young may move short distances from the nest within a week, becoming capable of flight around 30 to 35 days old.
Their diet is diverse, consisting of small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. In winter, their diet varies by region: in northern areas, they primarily feed on deer mice, house mice, shrews, rabbits, and songbirds, while in southern areas, they consume cotton rats, house mice, harvest mice, rice rats, shrews, and songbirds.
Fun Facts
OTHER Species
