Birdland

Poetry in Feathers

The Northern Harrier is a very distinct hawk, long-winged and long-tailed. At close range the face of the Northern Harrier closely resembles that of an owl. Cornell School of Ornithology reports that Northern Harriers fly low over the ground when hunting, weaving back and forth over fields and marshes as they watch and listen for small animals. They eat on the ground, and they perch on low posts or trees. When breeding, males perform elaborate flying barrel rolls to court females. This female Northern Harrier was photographed by Park Hill resident Mark Silverstein.