The northern harrier, Circus cyaneus, is a medium sized bird of prey with broad wings and a very long tail. Its nickname of “marsh hawk” is derived from one of their common hunting grounds, marshes. A raptor similar in appearance to other well-known species like the red-tailed hawk, the northern harrier is the only species of the harrier family that can be found in the United States. Males and females have distinct differences. Female harriers are larger than males and have dark brown feathers,