Hawk I.D.

I never did get to see the front or head of this hawk. Any idea of the species?

Northern Harrier

Resin

Thanks once again Resin. This is a first for me and I didn't get the head!

I know this is headless (ha) but I really like this picture. It's a good study in feathers.

Actually, you can see the head, though it's in shadow, under its right wing - it is looking down for prey ;-)

Resin

Oh Yah! I see it now.

Er, ah, Resin, would it not be more accurate to say SHE is looking down for prey? ;-)

Unless it's a first-winter male, of course!

Resin

Bob and Resin, What are you looking at to distinguish male/female? I just got Brian Wheeler's Raptors of Western North America and am looking at the Harrier info, but I'm having trouble wading through all that info. Sibley doesn't have enough info, but this book is over my head at this point. I need to study the beginning and just learn what all the parts and feathers are called. Whew. A lot to learn.

Briefly, adult males grey with white rump and black wingtips; adult females brown with white rump and barred tail. Juveniles and first-winters (both sexes) similar to adult female, but tending to be slightly more orange-brown. Second year female similar to adult female, second year male somewhat intermediate between juvenile and adult male (i.e., patchy grey).

This from google books might help too, though it's very detailed so might also be "trouble wading through all that info" ;-)
http://books.google.ie/books?id=hlIztc05HTQC&pg=PA483&lpg=PA483&dq=northern+harrier+measurements&source=bl&ots=6wwuaM5FCC&sig=zcBNDJddF50E1QRpz3hN2bnGrS4&hl=en&ei=WWI9TfqLM4O0hAfap43kCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCIQ6AEwAjgK#v=onepage&q=northern%20harrier%20measurements&f=true (scroll down to the next page for full details)

At the link, also scroll to near the top for plate 29.

Resin

Resin, That helps tremendously. You have simplified it to the point where I have a place to start focusing. The link does help too, but you are right - a lot to wade through.

Thanks so much!!!

Patti

A good (but small) photo of the male can be seen here

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.nps.gov/labe/naturescience/images/northern_harrier_male.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.nps.gov/labe/naturescience/birds.htm&usg=__pzvfvsuSHxKEC0Ke3f7DbKAoFsk=&h=150&w=150&sz=11&hl=en&start=12&zoom=1&tbnid=WtStZr7HWIUQ8M:&tbnh=120&tbnw=120&ei=pending&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmale%2Bnorthern%2Bharrier%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26biw%3D1362%26bih%3D488%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C286&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=753&vpy=240&dur=1014&hovh=120&hovw=120&tx=120&ty=72&oei=CT1ETYPmEJH1gAfImqi0AQ&esq=2&page=2&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:12&biw=1362&bih=488

Around here, females outnumber "Greyhounds" by quite a number. I see 3 or 4 females (or first year males) coursing the marsh I live on every day. I'm lucky to see 1 Greyhound a season. Once one sees one, one never forgets. The difference is that striking.

Ah, sweet shot for comparison! Thanks Bob! I have seen some Harriers in Galveston on the marsh there. I plan to head out today to see if I can find a Greyhound. :O) Cool!!!

Edit to Add: I went out and spent quite a while. There were just too many people and too few birds. I'll have to go again on a weekday. I did see two Harriers soaring and got ID photos of one of them, but it was female. The other appeared to be female as well through the binocs.

Thanks,
Patti

This message was edited Jan 30, 2011 10:36 AM