Tag: Harrier hawk

We’ve had great sightings of Harrier hawks lately. I caught this one flying not far from the aerial show that I partially captured here so it might be the same guy. This one was flying normally.

While not the kinds of closeups with exquisite detail, these shots give you a better idea of the look and color of these gorgeous birds.

In case it isn’t obvious, I’ve been watching birds a lot this spring.

Yesterday I showed you a female harrier hawk having a look for dinner. Yesterday evening I had the good fortune to find a male harrier on the wing and I was witness to an air show I hadn’t seen before.

This bird was flying in great swoops, making big circles on the wing while calling.

If you’ve ever seen a hummingbird perform a courting dance, this harrier was putting on showy stunts of that sort, flying up, then soaring down dramatically. The downward dives were so fast most of my shots were blurred.

I hadn’t seen a harrier do this before. I assume there was an impressed female somewhere nearby. I know I certainly was.

If you notice differences between yesterday’s harrier and today’s, you’re correct. The females have more reddish coloration on their chests and wings. The males are more grey and white. They’re also smaller than females.

One reason I like walking late in the day is the opportunity to watch the local harrier hawks hunt for dinner. Catching them in the act is another matter entirely.