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GrrlScientist is an evolutionary biologist, ornithologist, aviculturist, birder and freelance science and nature writer. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she relocated from Seattle to NYC with her parrots after earning a BS in Microbiology (emphasis in Virology) and PhD in Zoology (Ornithology) from the University of Washington. In NYC, she was the Chapman Postdoctoral Fellow at the American Museum of Natural History for two years, pursuing part of her "dream" research project by reconstructing a molecular phylogeny of the parrots of the South Pacific islands. GrrlScientist and her five parrots are currently relocating to Germany, where she will continue writing her blog while also writing a book and learning German. (Meanwhile, her parrots will continue to nibble on her extensive personal library.) If you appreciate GrrlScientist's writing, you can help pay her living expenses by hiring her to "blog" your conference, speak at your club or write articles for your publication (or by clicking on the Paypal button below). If you read an essay on this blog that you especially enjoyed, please nominate it for inclusion in OpenLab2009.
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Topic Categories: Birding • Education • Mystery Birds • Nature • Photography • Teaching
Posted on: June 6, 2009 9:59 AM, by "GrrlScientist"
tags: Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] female Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus, photographed on the Fort Pierre National Grasslands in South Dakota. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Terry Sohl, 26 November 2008 [larger view]
Photo taken with a Canon 50D, 400 5.6L.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
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Comments
Female Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus. You can see the facial disc, and it's female by the streaky breast.
Posted by: Robyn | June 6, 2009 11:27 AM
Darn. Got it wrong myself. I was fooled as I thought the tail should look longer so I discounted harrier despite the other evidence. Then I saw Robyn's answer, checked my bird guide, and I see Robyn is right.
Posted by: Daniel J. Andrews | June 6, 2009 12:21 PM
Agreed, Northern Harrier, and note the (proportionally) l-o-n-g wings.
Posted by: pk1154 | June 6, 2009 5:59 PM
I always called them Marsh Hawks. Is that improper?
Posted by: Gail Storm | June 6, 2009 9:05 PM
it has a falcon shaped head. what a beautiful bird.
Posted by: Adelle | June 6, 2009 9:48 PM
Their common name used to be Marsh Hawk, but it got changed. I don't recall why anymore, I think it has something to do with a similar name in Europe, but I could be wrong on that count.
Posted by: Robyn | June 7, 2009 5:01 AM
I still call them Marsh Hawks unless I am talking to someone else! I like that name better. :)
Posted by: DonnaB | June 7, 2009 5:24 PM
called Hen Harrier in the UK unpopular with game keepers as they feed on young grouse on the moors.
Posted by: Graham Anderson | October 26, 2009 11:27 AM