Bird · GBIF taxon 5229175
Circus cyaneus hudsonius
Circus cyaneus hudsoniusAlso known as Northern Harrier, Marsh Hawk, American Harrier
Circus cyaneus hudsonius is the American harrier form, a long-winged raptor with an owl-like facial disk and a conspicuous white rump. It quarters low over marshes and fields; adult males are pale gray, while females and immatures are brown and streaked.
Low-flying RaptorWhite RumpOpen-country Hunter
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Voles
- Mice
- Small birds
Predators
- Great Horned Owls
- Red foxes
- Raccoons
ThreatsWetland and grassland loss, mowing of ground nests, pesticide exposure, collisions, and human disturbance
HabitatsMarshes, wet meadows, grassland, tundra, agricultural fields, dunes, and open shrubland
Life spanOften several years, with exceptional banded birds surviving beyond 15 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAccipitridae
- SpeciesCircus cyaneus hudsonius
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Remain far from ground nests and never follow a food-carrying adult into tall vegetation.
Responsible observation
- Flight: Watch for buoyant low quartering with wings held in a shallow V.
- Rump: Use the broad white rump patch to confirm distant birds of either sex.
- Nest: Observe hunting flights from established routes without entering tall grass.
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