Northern Harrier

[pegasus]

We've just got back from Norfolk and in the marshes adjoining the village a Northern Harrier is frequently seen[since November i think]. We saw it a few times after it was initially pointed out to me by one of numerous birders there specifically to view this rare bird. [the first time in the UK].
Anyone know much about this bird and should'nt be in America?

[The Woodman]

The northern harrier of the north Americas is Circus cyaneus, here the hen harrier is one and the same, Circus cyaneus.

[Ukwildlifeo]

When we were up in norfolk there was some talk it was a marsh harrier with unusual colouration. No idea what the consensus is now?

[pegasus]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

When we were up in norfolk there was some talk it was a marsh harrier with unusual colouration. No idea what the consensus is now?

Well,chatting to some RSPB guys at Titchwell and with some seemingly knowledgeable Birders,who were there, the 'consensus' would seem to be it is a female Northern Harrier. The locals seem to be accepting this,but this level if ID'ing is beyond my skill level.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

When we were up in norfolk there was some talk it was a marsh harrier with unusual colouration. No idea what the consensus is now?

General concensus is that it is a Northern Harrier (a juvenile male rather than a female).
When the name Northern Harrier is used in the UK it is usually to refer to the American race of Circus cyaneus, C. c. hudsonicuswhich is sometimes treated as a separate species.

There is currently one accepted record of this race/species in Britain (not the Norfolk one, although that may be accepted in due course), and there have been several other claims, including an adult male in 2009. There were also two reported in Ireland last October (the Norfolk bird has probably been present since October).

[davecatt]

Originally Posted by RoyW

General concensus is that it is a Northern Harrier (a juvenile male rather than a female).
When the name Northern Harrier is used in the UK it is usually to refer to the American race of Circus cyaneus, C. c. hudsonicuswhich is sometimes treated as a separate species.

There is currently one accepted record of this race/species in Britain (not the Norfolk one, although that may be accepted in due course), and there have been several other claims, including an adult male in 2009. There were also two reported in Ireland last October (the Norfolk bird has probably been present since October).

I admit I'm not up to date on this but after a quick "google" I've not found anything to contradict my understanding: Though there are some that think that Northern Harrier may be a sub spp,the chances are the only difference between the North American and Eurasian Hen Harriers is pigmentation.

Which is most likely; a variation in colouring of a local bird, or a North American bird making a crossing of more than three thousand mile over open ocean which ends up,not on the nearest land fall but in a traditional over wintering ground for our Hen Harriers on the east coast ?

Keep an open mind in all things to do with nature,but this stretches credulity to the limits.
Dave

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by davecatt

I admit I'm not up to date on this but after a quick "google" I've not found anything to contradict my understanding: Though there are some that think that Northern Harrier may be a sub spp,the chances are the only difference between the North American and Eurasian Hen Harriers is pigmentation.

Which is most likely; a variation in colouring of a local bird, or a North American bird making a crossing of more than three thousand mile over open ocean which ends up,not on the nearest land fall but in a traditional over wintering ground for our Hen Harriers on the east coast ?

Keep an open mind in all things to do with nature,but this stretches credulity to the limits.
Dave

There are some consistent features (using a suite of features) which can help distinguish well marked individuals. If you can get a look at the most recent issue of Birding World there is a very good article on this + some fine photos of Northern Harriers taken in America as well as Ireland, Durham + the Norfolk bird as well as Hen Harriers.

I believe a feather has been taken from the Norfolk bird so maybe DNA analysis may prove its identity. As Roy says some authorities see the Northern Harrier as a separate species. The Norfolk bird, which I was lucky to see at Titchwell a couple of weeks back, has also shown some subtle behaviour differences to the Hen Harriers.

We might expect most american vagrants to turn up on the western side of the UK + most do, but birds turn up quite often on the eastern side. There are many examples such as the Common Nighthawk that turned up in a Durham quarry last autumn, the well visited White-crowned Sparrow at Cley + perhaps one of the most famous twitches of all- the Golden-winged Warbler in Kent many years back

[pegasus]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

There are some consistent features (using a suite of features) which can help distinguish well marked individuals. If you can get a look at the most recent issue of Birding World there is a very good article on this + some fine photos of Northern Harriers taken in America as well as Ireland, Durham + the Norfolk bird as well as Hen Harriers.

I believe a feather has been taken from the Norfolk bird so maybe DNA analysis may prove its identity. As Roy says some authorities see the Northern Harrier as a separate species. The Norfolk bird, which I was lucky to see at Titchwell a couple of weeks back, has also shown some subtle behaviour differences to the Hen Harriers.

We might expect most american vagrants to turn up on the western side of the UK + most do, but birds turn up quite often on the eastern side. There are many examples such as the Common Nighthawk that turned up in a Durham quarry last autumn, the well visited White-crowned Sparrow at Cley + perhaps one of the most famous twitches of all- the Golden-winged Warbler in Kent many years back

And there was a Dusky Thrush in Warrington][Cheshire] a few weeks ago that should have been in Borneo i think.

Thanks for the replies re Northern harrier. It's certainly caused a great deal of debate on various bird forums!