Date: October 31, 2013Contributor(s): Deborah Tracy-Kral

Location: Stanfordville, NY

The Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) is primarily a winter resident of Dutchess County and can be seen flying low (“coursing”) over fields and marshes.  It is slender and long-winged (wingspan is 43 inches) with distinctive white upper tail coverts in flight.  The male is nicknamed the “Grey Ghost” for its grey coloring.  The brown Females and juveniles are similar in appearance.  The juvenile typically has an unstreaked underbody, the female streaked with the degree of rusty or buffy coloring varying with both.  Refer to Jerry Ligouri’s blog for an article “Brown Harrier” for more information on aging the harrier:  http://jerryliguori.blogspot.com/2013/09/brown-harriers.html

(click on the image to see a larger view)

 

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