Northern Harriers are the only harriers found in North America. They hunt by surprising prey while flying low to the ground in open areas, such as the one seen over our prairie recently. They have an owl-like facial disk that allows them to hunt by sound as well as by sight. males and females are dimorphic meaning they differ in color so the male is also called gray ghost. All northern harriers have that white rump patch. Northern Harrier numbers appear to be declining in North America because of the loss of natural open habitats which is why it’s extremely crucial to conserve coastal prairies like ours. Up to 95% of their diet comprises small mammals such as rodents, and is why farmers often saw them as good hawks because they pose no threat to poultry. Photo courtesy of Gary Seloff
