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Wildlife
- Birds - |
Northern Harrier
(Circus cyaneus) Y |
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RANGE: Breeds from northern Alaska to southern Quebec and
Newfoundland south to Baja California, southern Arizona,
southern and eastern Texas, southern Illinois, and southeastern
Virginia. Winters from Alaska (casually) and southern British
Columbia east to South Dakota, southern Ontario, and
Massachusetts south through the United States to South America.
STATUS: Common; populations are increasing slightly in the
Southwest, and declining in the Northeast and Midwest.
HABITAT: Typically inhabits sloughs, wet meadows, fresh or salt
marshes, swamps, prairies and plains. Generally roosts on the
ground or perches on very low objects such as fence posts or
tree stumps. During the non-breeding season, inhabits areas far
removed from nesting habitat. Roosts in undisturbed fields or
marshes in winter.
SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Open country with herbaceous or
low woody vegetation for concealing nests.
NEST: Nests singly or sometimes semi-colonially, on the ground
in a variety of sites, but usually near or above water. Nests in
tall grass in open fields, in swamps with low shrubs and
clearings, sometimes built up over water on a stick foundation,
sedge tussock, or willow clump, or on a knoll of dry ground.
FOOD: Hunts for food, primarily on the wing, over fields,
marshes, and meadows, taking a wide variety of prey including
mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects, and fishes.
Mostly eats small mammals.
REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, DeGraff et al. 1980, Evans 1982,
Heintzelman 1979, Low and Mansell 1983, McAtee 1935, Miller
1999, Shunk 2004, Sprunt 1955, Tate and Tate 1982, Terres 1980. |
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