Harrier_Owl

The Northern Harrier and Owls page contains 52 images of Harriers hunting over Bolsa Chica
Wildlife Refuge in Southern California and at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico
(including a spectacular hunting scene at Bosque del Apache), plus male and female Snowy Owls,
a pair of Barn Owls, and a Great Horned Owl, all taken near Mount Ranier in Washington State.

Click an image to open a larger version.
Use your back button to return to this page.

Raptor Section Index

 

Eagles

 

Hawks

 

 

Alaskan Bald Eagles
Bosque del Apache Bald Eagles
Brackendale and Yellowstone Eagles
Eagle Portraits

 

Red-Tailed Hawks in Flight
Red-Tailed Hawk Portraits
Assorted Hawks
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harriers and Owls

 

Falcons, Kestrels and Merlins

 

 

White-Tailed Kites

 

Northern Osprey

 

Sunburst3

Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Raptors Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

PhotoshelterGallerySection


Direct Links:

Eagles     Red-Tailed Hawks     Assorted Hawks
Owl and Harrier        Falcons & Kites        Osprey

Sunburst3
NorthernHarrier_2485


Northern Harrier 2485

An adult female Northern Harrier in flight over Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico.

NorthernHarrier_2592


Northern Harrier 2592

NorthernHarrier_2626


Northern Harrier 2626

A Juvenile Harrier shows both sides of its wings in this pair of images taken at
great distance with an 850mm lens at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge, NM.

One of few raptors in which the sexes look very different, males are white below and gray above,
females are rusty buff with brown streaks below and brown above with white at the base of the tail.
The rusty buff color on the underside of females lightens to an off-white as the weather gets warmer.
Juveniles look like the females but with rust-orange below, dark brown wings and a very dark head.

They primarily hunt for small rodents (squirrels, mice and rats). Males sometimes take small birds.
Harriers use both their eyes and ears to find prey, and they have very good hearing, enhanced by
the stiff feathers of their face forming an owl-like facial disc which transmits sound. Harriers have
also been known to take ducks and rabbits, which they then drown by holding them underwater.

NorthernHarrier_Takeoff_X3752-53XL


Northern Harrier Takeoff X3752-53 XL

A 2005 x 890 version of the XL Composite image (4005 x 1725)
showing a Juvenile Harrier taking off to hunt at Bosque del Apache.

NorthernHarrier_FalconGlide_2630-31


Northern Harrier Falcon Glide 2630-31

A Juvenile Northern Harrier in a steep glide with wings in a Falcon-like position to reduce drag
(taken at great distance with an 850mm lens at the beginning of a shallow but Falcon-like dive).

Northern Harriers typically hunt in a low, slow flight pattern, using their sharp vision and hearing
aided by an Owl-like facial disc to take a variety of prey. Mice, squirrels and other small mammals,
small birds, reptiles, amphibians, and occasionally larger mammals and birds are on the menu.
Holding their wings in a shallow V, Harriers fly nap of the earth, circling an area several times.
Soft feathers help them fly silently to surprise their prey as they glide overhead and pounce.

NorthernHarrier_4134


Northern Harrier 4134

NorthernHarrier_4129


Northern Harrier 4129

A female Northern Harrier gliding low over a field next to the marsh at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.

All of the Harriers below are females, with gray, barred under-wings, black wingtips and streaked breast.
Upper wings are dark brown and the tail is banded with light and dark bars, with a white stripe at the base.

NorthernHarrier_4131


Northern Harrier 4131

A female Northern Harrier glides past the marsh in the Farm Loop at Bosque del Apache.

Northern Harriers prefer breeding and hunting on open fields and marshlands.

NorthernHarrier_4136


Northern Harrier 4136

A female Harrier remains intent on the field below as she banks to show her barred underwing detail.

Sunburst3

Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Raptors Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

PhotoshelterGallerySection


Direct Links:

Eagles     Red-Tailed Hawks     Assorted Hawks
Owl and Harrier        Falcons & Kites        Osprey

Sunburst3
NorthernHarrier_Head-on_5138


Northern Harrier Head-on 5138

A female Northern Harrier flies directly towards the photographer while hunting a field at Bosque del Apache.

NorthernHarrier_5139


Northern Harrier 5139

A female Harrier displays underwing detail as she soars overhead at Bosque del Apache.

In this image and several of those below, you can easily see the Owl-like facial disc which
funnels sound waves toward the ears, allowing the Harrier to precisely locate scurrying prey.

NorthernHarrier_3206


Northern Harrier 3206

A female Northern Harrier gliding over Bolsa Chica Wildlife Refuge in Southern California.

Note the lighter body color of this female. The rusty buff underside fades to white by Spring in
cooler climates, but mild January weather of Southern California speeds up the color change.

NorthernHarrier_3207


Northern Harrier 3207

NorthernHarrier_3208


Northern Harrier 3208

An adult female Northern Harrier, or Marsh Hawk, in flight over the Main Canal at Bolsa Chica.
The flat facial disc is formed from stiffened feathers which amplify and direct sound to the ears.

NorthernHarrier_3209


Northern Harrier 3209

A female Harrier glides over the Main Canal at Bolsa Chica, scattering shorebirds in her wake.

When hunting a coastal migration stopover like Bolsa Chica, Harriers take shorebirds, waterfowl and
sparrows to supplement their diet of field mice and squirrels, frogs and other amphibians, and rabbits.

NorthernHarrier_X9088


Northern Harrier X9088

An exceptionally large adult female Northern Harrier over Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.
Females are significantly larger than males, with large females 2-2.5 times the size of small males.
The largest male Northern Harriers are about the same size as the smallest females (about 400 grams).

NorthernHarrier_inFlight_M


Northern Harrier in Flight M

A composite showing detail crops of a head-on approach and a profile, cropped from 3207.

All of the landscape (horizontal) large version images linked from the thumbnails are 1500 pixels wide.
Portrait (vertical) images are 1200 pixels tall (1290 pixels with title bar). Images designated with an “M”
in the shot number are 5:4 aspect ratio, 1500 x 1290 with a title bar, or 1500 x 1200 without a title bar.

Sunburst3

Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Raptors Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

PhotoshelterGallerySection


Direct Links:

Eagles     Red-Tailed Hawks     Assorted Hawks
Owl and Harrier        Falcons & Kites        Osprey

Sunburst3
Harrier_Hunting_2466


Harrier Hunting 2466

A female Harrier glides with her wings in a V-configuration while hunting over a field at Bosque del Apache.

Harrier_Departing_2468


Harrier Departing 2468

Harrier_Departing_2469


Harrier Departing 2469

The female Harrier has a white stripe at the base of its long, wedge-shaped barred tail.
This distinctive white rump is often the first thing seen allowing identification at a distance.

Harrier_Departing_X3350


Harrier Departing X3350

A female Northern Harrier just after takeoff, displaying the distinctive white stripe at the base of the tail.

Harrier_Hunting_5117


Harrier Hunting 5117

A pair of close flight portraits of a hunting female Northern Harrier at Bosque del Apache.
Note the distinctive Owl-like facial disc which amplifies and directs sound to the bird’s ears.

Harrier_Hunting_5118


Harrier Hunting 5118

These images were taken as the Harrier entered the area for a spectacular hunting sequence.
A series of images from this hunting sequence are displayed in the section immediately following.

NorthernHarrier_Pounce_X8984M


Northern Harrier Pounce X8984 M

A female Northern Harrier pounces on her prey in the marsh at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.

Sunburst3

Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Raptors Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

PhotoshelterGallerySection


Direct Links:

Eagles     Red-Tailed Hawks     Assorted Hawks
Owl and Harrier        Falcons & Kites        Osprey

Sunburst3
Harrier_Hunting_5124


Harrier Hunting 5124

Harrier_Hunting_5125


Harrier Hunting 5125

A female Northern Harrier glides into an area at the beginning of a spectacular hunting sequence,
taken at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge from 150 feet away at mid-afternoon with a 700mm lens.

Harrier_Hunting_5127


Harrier Hunting 5127

The Harrier hears something of interest, possibly a panicking field mouse scurrying through the underbrush,
and hovers silently over the area and uses her facial disc to localize the sound, drawing a bead on the prey.

Harrier_Hunting_5128M


Harrier Hunting 5128 M

Harrier_Hunting_5131M


Harrier Hunting 5131 M

A female Northern Harrier hovering over a sound in a field, dangling her feet in anticipation of a pounce.

Harrier_Hunting_5130M


Harrier Hunting 5130 M

The female remains intent while hovering over the area, but cannot localize the sound.

Harrier_Hunting_5132M


Harrier Hunting 5132 M

Note how the Harrier remains exactly over the same area, using her eyes and ears to locate the prey.

Harrier_Hunting_5134M


Harrier Hunting 5134 M

The female Harrier drops lower, thinking she has found the prey, but eventually realizes she has missed it.
She leaves for a while and circles the field beyond before returning silently for another pass over the area.

Sunburst3

Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Raptors Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

PhotoshelterGallerySection


Direct Links:

Eagles     Red-Tailed Hawks     Assorted Hawks
Owl and Harrier        Falcons & Kites        Osprey

Sunburst3
Harrier_Hunting_5142M


Harrier Hunting 5142 M

Harrier_Hunting_5143M


Harrier Hunting 5143 M

The female Northern Harrier returns from her circuit over the next field to scan the area again
in the hope that the field mouse has acquired a false sense of security and begun foraging again.

Harrier_Hunting_5146M


Harrier Hunting 5146 M

She hovers over the area, trying to acquire a visual or audible track on her prey, but cannot find it.

Harrier_Hunting_5150


Harrier Hunting 5150

Finally, the Harrier decides to leave the area and try another field.

Harrier_Hunting_5151M


Harrier Hunting 5151 M

As the female Harrier flies silently away, she continues to scan the field below, looking for stirring creatures.

Harrier_Hunting_5152c


Harrier Hunting 5152c

Unfortunately, nothing is moving below, so she raises her head and speeds away to another field.

NorthernHarrier_HuntingSequence_XXL


Northern Harrier Hunting Sequence XXL

A 1999 x 1290 version of the XXL Composite image (6015 x 3735)
of a Northern Harrier hunting at Bosque del Apache in New Mexico.

Sunburst3

Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Raptors Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

PhotoshelterGallerySection


Direct Links:

Eagles     Red-Tailed Hawks     Assorted Hawks
Owl and Harrier        Falcons & Kites        Osprey

Sunburst3
BarnOwls_7729


Barn Owls 7729

Barn Owls in Eatonville, near Mount Ranier, Washington.

The Barn Owl is the most widely distributed of the Owls, and is known by names such as the Ghost Owl and Screech Owl for its eerie appearance and its call. They have a heart-shaped face and a light gray-brown front, a golden-brown back and wings, and small speckles. The female is larger than the male. Barn Owls are nocturnal and primarily eat rodents.

GreatHornedOwl_7722


Great Horned Owl 7722

The Northwestern Great Horned Owl is an Eagle Owl. It is the 2nd largest of the North American Owls after the Snowy Owl shown below. It is a heavily-built Owl with prominent ear-tufts, a large head, barred underside and a mottled brown back. The exceptional binocular vision and hearing of these owls allow them to pinpoint prey in very low light conditions.

The extremely large eyes of the Eagle Owls are fixed in their sockets, so the Owl must
turn the entire head to follow a subject. Their necks can rotate 270 degrees. They have
better visual and aural depth perception and better perception of sound elevation than
humans. The ears are set asymmetrically in the head (the right ear is generally higher)
and the ears are set at different angles, allowing the bird to precisely pinpoint a sound
by moving its head until the sound is the same in both ears. Owls hunt by watching for
prey from a high perch or by flying low over an area looking for prey activity especially
near burrows or openings in the ground. They pounce on prey with their talons, which
can exert 300 PSI of crushing force and are very sharp. They can eat nearly anything.

Eagle_Owl_HS5966


Eagle Owl HS5966

A detail crop of a Eurasian Eagle Owl (one of the largest species of Owls).
Unlike the Great Horned Owl, which has yellow eyes, the Eurasian Eagle Owl
has striking orange eyes. The Eagle Owl is nocturnal and hunts by eye and ear.

SnowyOwl_Female_7699


Snowy Owl Female 7699

SnowyOwl_Female_7700


Snowy Owl Female 7700

The female Snowy Owl differs from the male in that it has dark bars on a white background. The males are
all white with a few dark markings near the tail (see further below) and are smaller than females. Snowy Owls
are the largest Owl species in North America. Closely related to the Eagle Owls, they are in the genus Bubo
 with Horned Owls, which do not exhibit a pronounced facial disc. Snowy Owl ear tufts are generally hidden.

SnowyOwl_Female_7706M


Snowy Owl Female 7706 M

Snowy Owls have yellow eyes which stand out prominently from their white faces. They hunt both by day
and by night, but prefer hunting in relatively low light. They hunt either from an elevated perch or by flying
low over the ground. They sit in the same place for long periods, making it easy to get these portraits.

SnowyOwl_Female_7709M


Snowy Owl Female 7709 M

Snowy Owls breed in the Arctic, and winter in Canada and the northern US, although some go further south.
Their plumage is adapted for camouflage in the Arctic snow and tundra, and they tend to stand out in a forest.
They often winter along shorelines and prefer open areas that look like tundra, but sometimes winter in forests.

SnowyOwl_Female_7714


Snowy Owl Female 7714

SnowyOwl_Female_7717


Snowy Owl Female 7717

In their Arctic breeding grounds, Snowy Owls rely primarily on Lemmings and other small rodents, but in
their wintering grounds they will take small mammals like mice, larger mammals like rabbits, squirrels, rats
marmots and moles, and several bird species including ducks, geese, ptarmigan, shorebirds, and even owls.

SnowyOwl_Male_7690


Snowy Owl Male 7690

A male Snowy Owl in its characteristic all white plumage enjoying a sunny spot in the forest near Mt. Ranier.
The older a male is, the less dark markings are visible. This is a mature male, with nearly pure white plumage.

SnowyOwl_Male_7693


Snowy Owl Male 7693

SnowyOwl_Male_7707


Snowy Owl Male 7707

A male Snowy Owl perched in the forest near Mt. Ranier.

Snowy Owls are mostly monogamous, but the pair bond can be rather weak and males sometimes mate
with two different females whose nests are in the same area. Snowy Owls nest on the ground. Sometimes
they scrape a nest into the top of a mound or build a nest on a boulder for good visibility near hunting areas.

SnowyOwls_7707_7715_VLG


Snowy Owls 7707 7715 VLG

A 1500 x 1071 version of the VLG Composite image (2486 x 1775)
of male and female Snowy Owls near Mount Ranier in Washington State.

Sunburst3

Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Raptors Collection where a Gallery can be selected.

PhotoshelterGallerySection


Direct Links:

Eagles     Red-Tailed Hawks     Assorted Hawks
Owl and Harrier        Falcons & Kites        Osprey

Sunburst3
Raptors


Click the Display Composite above to return to the Raptors Index
(or use the navigation bars below to select another section or page)

GrEgret_copyright_clip