Male Northern Harrier in flightMale Northern Harrier in flight – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 800, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

Northern Harriers fascinate me partly because they are sexually dimorphic; meaning that the males and females look different even though they are the same species, and also because of their owl-like facial discs.

The male bird above is in his second year and hasn’t fully gotten his adult plumage which is why there are some browns where grays usually are in adults.

Female Northern Harrier in flightFemale Northern Harrier in flight – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/4000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

This female has brown plumage and her eyes are a straw color instead of the bright, lemony yellow that adult males have.

Harriers are agile fliers and can turn very rapidly when they are after prey. Photographing Northern Harriers in flight can be exhilarating and challenging because they twist and turn so quickly.  Right now it is nesting season for the Northern Harriers in Utah, I will be watching them to see if I can photograph any with nesting materials.

Mia