Northern Harrier Hawk..?

[wooly]

I've been watching this guy buzzing across the top of the standing corn and dive bombing innocent feeding doves the past few evenings. He hasn't nailed any yet that I've seen, but that doesn't stop him from trying again, and again..., and again. He finally did a fly-bye through one of my shooting lanes where I landed this shot.

I THINK it is a Harrier hawk based on my googling, but looking for confirmation from you raptor guys.

[Lawdwaz]

Dang.................what a picture!

[ny hunter]

WOW great pic.........

[turkeyfeathers]

Great pic Wooly ! 

Wish I was better at raptor identification. My brother out west was watching a peregrine dive bomb a bald about a week ago  . Said eagle wasn't liking that at all  

Have a either coopers or sharpie who's been hanging out on 1 of 4 telephone poles in front of our local HS. Have had him swoop down twice now in front of my car to grab a dove from row of pines. Think he's 2 for 2   We always beep the horn and wave to him perched. Been there for 2 solid years now. 

[Pygmy]

Nice picture, Matt...You nailed it, that is a northern harrier...There are two color phases, a grey and a brown, but  they are fairly easy to ID because of their long, pointed wings, long tail and distinct white rump patch..You most often see them flying low over

over the fields. They are very common , at least in my area down here in southern Steuben County. 

[FX62]

Great pic!!  Must've been cool to watch live. 

[ny hunter]

I have an uncle that flys pigeons the last 3 weeks a falcon has grabbed a bird right out of the sky,it is really amazing to watch,There is a very big Redtail that also comes around but the birds see him and bounce in a heart beat....

[turkeyfeathers]

I may have seen him/her yesterday out in wooly country. Noticed a raptor with a longer than usual tail gliding .Didn't get a great view but was no sharpie, coopers or red tail for sure.

[alloutdoors]

On 10/4/2016 at 9:17 AM, Pygmy said:

Nice picture, Matt...You nailed it, that is a northern harrier...There are two color phases, a grey and a brown, but  they are fairly easy to ID because of their long, pointed wings, long tail and distinct white rump patch..You most often see them flying low over

over the fields. They are very common , at least in my area down here in southern Steuben County. 

Close, but they aren't color phases. The adult males are grey, adult females and juveniles are brown.

[Pygmy]

Thanks AO.. I am always glad to learn something...