northern harriers

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Male Northern harrier. Photo by Fred Bowman

At this time last week I spoke about birds-of-prey at this year's Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge. Afterwards, I chatted with Fred Bowman from Knoxville at my Author's Table.

In our area, there is slight plumage difference between the male and female of just about all the species of raptors. Two exceptions are the American kestrel and the northern harrier. 

Harriers are only in East Tennessee during the winter months. The females are brownish overall and the males are a rather striking pale gray. In fact, they are known as Gray Ghosts and watching them cruise low to the ground over the fields in Cades Cove in the winter, it is easy to see why.

Fred sent me his photographs of both a male and female harrier, so you can quickly see the difference.

Thanks, Fred.

Female Northern harrier. Photo by Fred Bowman.