Harriers occupy every continent in the world except Antarctica (Fuehrer 1996), although, the Northern Harrier, formerly called the Marsh Hawk, is the only harrier species found in North America (Elphick et al. 2001). It is regularly seen in Tennessee (Tennessee Ornithological Society 2006) and North Carolina (Potter et al. 1980), during the winter months. Unlike other hawks, the Northern Harrier often uses sound to locate prey. It has a unique facial disk, like an owl, which aids in hearing (Fuehrer 1996). This species can often be recognized by the way it holds its wings high over its back in a ?V? shape as it flies low over fields and wetlands.

In North Carolina, this species? status is significantly rare (LeGrand and Hall 1999). This means it exists in small numbers and the N.C. Natural Heritage Program has determined that it needs to be monitored. In Tennessee, this species is "deemed in need of management? or of ?special concern? (Withers et al. 2004). This means the species needs to be investigated in terms of populations, distributions, habitat needs, and other limited factors, in order to be managed correctly to maintain populations.

Length: 18? (45.7 cm), wingspan 44? (111. 75 cm) (Kaufman 2000).

Physical characteristics:
The male is gray with black on the tip of long wings. Both males and females have a white rump and horizontal streaking on the long tail. Females and juveniles are more brown, juveniles having more orangish-brown below.

Voice: Usually a silent bird, but may sometimes produce a ?thin whistle? (Kaufman 2000).

Breeding habitat:
Open farmlands, prairies, wet meadows, marshes, and/or savannah habitats (Ehlrich et al. 1988).

Mating system:
Most are monogamous, but a study in Wisconsin found increased polygyny with increased vole populations (Ehrlich et al. 1988). During courtship a male will perform many dives, including rolls in ?U-shaped loops? (Ehrlich et al. 1988).

Nest:
The female builds the nest, with some help from the male, on the ground or in a low shrub less than 5? feet from the ground. The nest is a platform type and is flimsy, made of sticks and grass, lined with fine materials (Ehrlich et al. 1988).

Eggs:
The eggs are bluish-white with no markings, 1.8? (47 mm). Occasionally, eggs may be spotted with brown. Typically, five eggs are laid in a clutch and only one brood per year (Ehrlich et al. 1988).

Chick development:
The female incubates the eggs for 31-32 days. The hatchlings are born semi-altricial having down and open eyes. The male and female both tend to the young, which fledge in 30-35 days (Ehrlich et al. 1988).

Diet:
It feeds primarily on small mammals, especially voles. It may feed on other small vertebrates, including birds. It hunts by searching in flight, low to the ground (Ehrlich et al. 1988).

This species relies on wetlands and open country for hunting and nesting. The decrease in these habitats has caused a decrease in the population of Northern Harriers. Currently, populations are stable or slightly decreasing (Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2003).

Distribution:

Breeding: Breeds across most of Alaska and Canada, except in the far north, and also from New England to the southern Rockies and California. The old world distribution is across Europe and Asia (Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2003) where it has been called the Hen Harrier.
Winter: Winters across much of the United States south into Central America. In the old world it winters in Europe and Asia, as well as northern parts of Africa (Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2003).

In Park: An occasional migrant and winter resident (Alsop 2003). Most observations have been made at Cades Cove, Purchase Knob, and from peaks along the Appalachian Trail, typically during the fall or winter. The earliest fall record of this species is August 13 at Clingmans?s Dome (Stupka 1963) and the latest spring record is from May 8 at Park Headquarters.

References:

Alsop, F. J. 1991. Birds of the Smokies. Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association. Gatlinburg, TN.

Ehrlich, P. R., D. S. Dobkin, and D. Wheye. 1988. The Birder?s Handbook: A Field Guide to the Natural History of North American Birds. Simon and Schuster, Inc. New York.

Elphick, C., J. B. Dunning, Jr., and D.A. Sibley, eds. 2001. The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.

Fuehrer, G. 1996. Sky dancer: The aerial prowess of the Northern Harrier. Birder?s World. February, p. 22-25.

Gough, G. A., Sauer, J. R., Iliff, M. Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter. 1998. Version 97.1. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/infocenter.html.

LeGrand, H. E. and Hall, S. P., compilers. 1999. Natural Heritage Program List of the Rare Animals of North Carolina. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Division of Parks and Recreation, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Reso

Potter, E. F., J. F. Parnell, and R. P. Teulings. 1980. Birds of the Carolinas. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill.

Stupka, A. 1963. Notes on the Birds of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, TN.

Tennessee Ornithological Society. 2006. Available at The Official Checklist of the Birds of Tennessee. Accessed on May 26, 2006.

Withers, D. I., K. Condict, and R. McCoy. 2004. A Guide to the Rare Animals of Tennessee. Division of Natural Heritage, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.