Northern Harrier

Harriers have long wings and tails relative to the size of their bodies. They can be found flying low over open meadows and marshes thoughout the continent. I saw one up in the mountains in Oregon, and more recently saw one flying over some open prairie at Glacial Park just outside of Ringwood, IL. In both cases, they were easily identified because of their distictive, low gliding techniques. The individual that I prepared was a juvenile. Juvenile Harriers are dark to rusty, siena brown, and adults tend to be a more of a slate, blue gray; either way a sublimely handsome creature. Note the facial disk of feathers that is more owl than raptor-like.