Northern Harriers are notoriously difficult to get pictures of and the males, nicknamed the Gray Ghost, seem to be even more so. They shy away from people and their erratic flight patterns close to the ground make it tough to get a lock on them.
I was absolutely tickled to come across this gorgeous guy as he circled a road kill and, best of all, he was willing to forgive my presence in order to secure a meal. In the process, I captured a series of images that were by far my best of this hawk to date.
You’ll find these hawks across much of North America, Europe and Asia depending on the season. Here we call them Northern Harriers but in other spots on the globe they are known as Hen Harriers, Harrier Hawks or Marsh Hawks.
Taken in Adams County, Colorado on February 6, 2016.
