Northern Harrier Michigan Birds Of Prey It s an accipiter a type of hawk with short broad wings and a long rudderlike tail that give it superb aerial agility.

Northern harrier michigan birds of prey Clair and lake erie where they can soar on the columns of warm air that rises over the sun warmed land.

Northern harrier michigan birds of prey. The northern goshawk is the bigger fiercer wilder relative of the sharp shinned and cooper s hawks that prowl suburbs and backyards. Of them 86 are classed as accidental 47 are classed as casual seven have been introduced to north america one is known to be extinct and another is believed to be and. 16 24 habitat. Fish and wildlife service has identified the northern harrier as a migratory nongame bird of management concern for region 3 which includes michigan u s.

It breeds throughout the northern parts of the northern hemisphere in canada and the northernmost usa while many taxonomic authorities split the northern harrier and the hen harrier into distinct species others consider them conspecific. The northern harrier circus hudsonius is a bird of prey. It migrates to more southerly areas in winter with breeding birds in more northerly areas moving. Northern harriers are now listed as endangered or threatened in 12 northcentral and northeastern states.

In spring and winter especially in the northern part of their range they prey predominantly on voles. Requires open country for hunting. Up close it has an owlish face that helps it hear mice and voles beneath the vegetation. First and foremost southeast michigan boasts perhaps the best location for hawk watching in north america.

State of michigan and accepted by the michigan bird records committee mbrc. These birds prey on rodents rabbits small birds reptiles amphibians and insects. The northern harrier is distinctive from a long distance away. Each gray and white male may mate with several females which are larger and brown.

See more ideas about harrier birds of prey birds. As of january 2020 there are 450 species included in the official list. Freshwater marshes saltwater marshes wet meadows sloughs swamps open fields. This is primarily because raptors or birds of prey migrate south along the detroit river corridor that connects lake st.

Diet varies based on prey availability but northern harriers take mostly small mammals and sometimes birds. Mostly small mammals such as voles mice shrews.