Formerly known as the “marshhawk,” the northern harrier (Circus cyaneus) is the only harrier found in the NWT.  Similar in size (46-56 cm tall) to Swainson’s hawk, it can be identified by a distinctive white rump patch.  The male is slate grey in colour while the dark brown plumage of the female allows her to remain camouflaged as she sits on her nest, which is located on the ground amongst marshland shrubbery.

Four to six eggs are laid in late May.  Northern harriers are very sensitive to disturbance and will quickly desert their nests if they are bothered during the incubation period.  The adults feed themselves and their offspring small rodents, frogs, birds and insects from the marshes.  The eyasses learn to fly once they are 37 days old and precede the mature birds to the wintering grounds throughout southern Canada and the USA.