12/14/2025
Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management shared a heads up for birders...
Heads up, birders. A northern harrier was observed last week by Department staff at Winding Waters Natural Area in West Palm Beach. This raptor is very distinctive: a slim, long-tailed hawk sporting a white patch at the base of its tail and often seen gliding low over the ground while holding its wings in a V-shape. They rely on hearing as well as vision to find prey. The disk-shaped face looks and functions much like an owl’s, with stiff facial feathers helping to direct sound to the ears. Northern harriers hunt mostly small mammals and small birds, but they can take bigger prey like rabbits and ducks. These hawks arrive in our area during late fall and spend the winter months hanging out at freshwater wetlands and grasslands. Learn more about these birds here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Harrier/.
