{"id":1706,"date":"2010-12-29T13:58:07","date_gmt":"2010-12-29T19:58:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=1706"},"modified":"2025-10-03T10:01:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T15:01:07","slug":"northern-harrier-expelling-a-pellet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2010\/12\/29\/northern-harrier-expelling-a-pellet\/","title":{"rendered":"Northern Harrier Expelling A Pellet"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last January I came upon this immature Northern Harrier expelling a pellet sitting on a fence at one our favorite locations on a cold, blustery winter day.<\/p>\n

\"NorthernNorthern Harrier with pellet in bill – Nikon D200, f6.3, 1\/1250, ISO 320, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

At first the harrier was rather still but then I noticed that it appeared the harrier was about to expel a pellet by it’s behavior. The black blob in the harrier’s bill is the un-expelled pellet.<\/p>\n

Observing birds behavior, watching their movements and actions can often lead to photos with loads of action. These photos aren’t my best, the light was not striking the bird at a very good angle and these are large crops.<\/p>\n

\"NorthernNorthern Harrier trying hard to expel a pellet –\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>Nikon D200, f6.3, 1\/1250, ISO 320, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

Owls, hawks, eagles, kites, falcons and harriers expel pellets of undigested bone and fur of the prey they eat usually at a rate of one pellet per meal. With harriers I’ve noticed a bulging of the throat area before a pellet is expelled and then the birds will open their bill to try to hack it up.<\/p>\n

\"NorthernNorthern Harrier almost falling while expelling a pellet –\u00a0Nikon D200, f6.3, 1\/1250, ISO 320, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

This Northern Harrier took about a minute to expel the pellet and I filled my buffer several times trying to catch all the action. The harrier appeared to be concentrating so hard on regurgitating the pellet that it nearly fell off of the fence.<\/p>\n

\"NorthernNorthern Harrier slipping on fence while regurgitating a pellet –\u00a0Nikon D200, f6.3, 1\/1250, ISO 320, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

The immature harrier was able to right itself without falling off of the fence but I was ready in case it did fall. As you can see the fence was not snow or frost covered so the bird didn’t slip because of that, I tend to believe that the slip was caused by the bird concentrating on expelling the pellet. It fluttered its wings to regain its position on the perch.<\/p>\n

\"NorthernNorthern Harrier showing the expelled pellet\u00a0–\u00a0Nikon D200, f6.3, 1\/1250, ISO 320, +0.3 EV, Nikkor\u00a0\u00a0200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

In the image above at the lower right side of the frame you can see the expelled pellet as it falls to the ground. Not long after the pellet was expelled the harrier took off, perhaps on a hunt for its next meal.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to view more of my Northern Harrier photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This Northern Harrier took about a minute to expel the pellet and I filled my buffer several times trying to catch all the action. The harrier appeared to be concentrating so hard on regurgitating the pellet that it nearly fell off of the fence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":159071,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,1022,697,348,26],"tags":[393,2663,765,4033,4169,519,4006,392,1075,1076],"class_list":["post-1706","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-davis-county-utah","category-farmington-bay-wma","category-northern-harriers","category-utah","tag-bird-behavior","tag-birds-of-prey","tag-circus-hudsonius","tag-hawk","tag-hawks","tag-nature","tag-northern-harrier","tag-pellet","tag-pellet-expulsion","tag-regugitating-a-pellet"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/northern-harrier-slip-pellet-mia-mcpherson-5796.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-rw","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4274,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/02\/03\/loggerhead-shrike-expelling-a-pellet-friday-photos\/","url_meta":{"origin":1706,"position":0},"title":"Loggerhead Shrike expelling a pellet – Friday Photos","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 3, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"It isn't everyday that I get to see and photograph a Loggerhead Shrike expelling a pellet!","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The pellet is in the Loggerhead Shrike\u2019s bill, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/loggerhead-shrike-bolus-mia-mcpherson-0399.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/loggerhead-shrike-bolus-mia-mcpherson-0399.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/loggerhead-shrike-bolus-mia-mcpherson-0399.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/loggerhead-shrike-bolus-mia-mcpherson-0399.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7813,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/03\/10\/juvenile-swainsons-hawk-expelling-a-pellet\/","url_meta":{"origin":1706,"position":1},"title":"Juvenile Swainson’s Hawk expelling a pellet","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 10, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Last summer I was able to see and photograph a juvenile Swainson's Hawk expelling a pellet in Beaverhead County, Montana.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Juvenile Swainson's Hawk in flight in Beaverhead County","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/swainsons-hawk-juvenile-flight-mia-mcpherson-2311.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/swainsons-hawk-juvenile-flight-mia-mcpherson-2311.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/swainsons-hawk-juvenile-flight-mia-mcpherson-2311.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/swainsons-hawk-juvenile-flight-mia-mcpherson-2311.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":56254,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/02\/20\/rough-legged-hawk-expelling-a-pellet-close-up-photos\/","url_meta":{"origin":1706,"position":2},"title":"Rough-legged Hawk Expelling A Pellet Close Up Photos","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 20, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"I've never been this close to a Rough-legged Hawk expelling a pellet before and it is likely that I will never be this fortunate again. This Rough-legged Hawk was my best bird for the day and I'm glad I stopped and waited for him to expel the pellet before moving\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"High key Rough-legged Hawk close up, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/rough-legged-hawk-portrait-mia-mcpherson-5143.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/rough-legged-hawk-portrait-mia-mcpherson-5143.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/rough-legged-hawk-portrait-mia-mcpherson-5143.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/rough-legged-hawk-portrait-mia-mcpherson-5143.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":37685,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/03\/31\/great-blue-herons-expelling-bile\/","url_meta":{"origin":1706,"position":3},"title":"Great Blue Herons Expelling Bile? (Graphic)","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 31, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I have only seen and photographed these two Great Blue Herons expelling bile in Florida and Utah. I wonder how often this occurs.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Retching Great Blue Heron, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/great-blue-heron-regurgitating-mia-mcpherson-8059.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/great-blue-heron-regurgitating-mia-mcpherson-8059.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/great-blue-heron-regurgitating-mia-mcpherson-8059.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/great-blue-heron-regurgitating-mia-mcpherson-8059.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":118923,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/12\/12\/immature-female-northern-harrier\/","url_meta":{"origin":1706,"position":4},"title":"Immature Female Northern Harrier","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 12, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Today I am sharing three photos of an immature female Northern Harrier that I took ten years ago at Farmington Bay WMA.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Immature female Northern Harrier scanning the marsh while in flight, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/northern-harrier-immature-female-winter-mia-mcpherson-9180.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/northern-harrier-immature-female-winter-mia-mcpherson-9180.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/northern-harrier-immature-female-winter-mia-mcpherson-9180.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/northern-harrier-immature-female-winter-mia-mcpherson-9180.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2290,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2011\/05\/07\/nesting-northern-harrier\/","url_meta":{"origin":1706,"position":5},"title":"Nesting Northern Harrier","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 7, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Tt was the first time that I have ever seen a Northern Harrier building a nest. It more than made my day!","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Female Northern Harrier slowing down above the nest, Bear River National Wildlife Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/northern-harrier-female-nesting-material-landing-mia-mcpherson-2112.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/northern-harrier-female-nesting-material-landing-mia-mcpherson-2112.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/northern-harrier-female-nesting-material-landing-mia-mcpherson-2112.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/northern-harrier-female-nesting-material-landing-mia-mcpherson-2112.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1706","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1706"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1706\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/159071"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1706"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1706"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1706"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}