Bird field guide · Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

Photographing the Northern Harrier

How to photograph the Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius): the right lens for its size, shutter speeds for perched and moving animals, and when it's most often seen (January, February, November and December).

30–100 cm1/2500–1/3200 s
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)
Photo: © Jonathan Eisen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jonathan Eisen via iNaturalist
30–100 cm
Typical length (family range)
1/800 s
Shutter: perched / still
1/2500–1/3200 s
Shutter: action / flight
f/6.3–f/8
Aperture
57,366
Research-grade sightings in N. America
ModeManual + Auto ISOLock shutter & aperture, let ISO float
Shutter (still)1/800 s
Shutter (action)1/2500–1/3200 s
Aperturef/6.3–f/8
FocusAF-C + subject/eye detectionFor flight shots use wide-area tracking and +0.3 to +1 EV against bright sky.
DriveHigh-speed burst
Lens100–400 mmFull-frame equivalent

Focal length needed to frame it#

For a subject about 65 cm long filling a third or half of the frame width horizontally.

Distance⅓ of frame (FF)½ of frame (FF)⅓ of frame (APS-C)⅓ of frame (MFT)
5 m (16 ft)90 mm135 mm60 mm45 mm
10 m (33 ft)179 mm269 mm120 mm90 mm
15 m (49 ft)269 mm404 mm179 mm135 mm
20 m (66 ft)359 mm539 mm239 mm179 mm
30 m (98 ft)538 mm808 mm359 mm269 mm
50 m (164 ft)897 mm1,347 mm598 mm449 mm

When to find it#

Jan: 14% Jan Feb: 11% Feb Mar: 10% Mar Apr: 9% Apr May: 5% May Jun: 3% Jun Jul: 3% Jul Aug: 4% Aug Sep: 7% Sep Oct: 9% Oct Nov: 12% Nov Dec: 13% Dec
Share of iNaturalist observations by month across North America. Peak months: January, February, November and December.

About the Northern Harrier#

The northern harrier or marsh hawk (Circus hudsonius or Circus cyaneus hudsonius) is a bird of prey.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia via iNaturalist (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Field-craft tips#

  • Wintering eagles concentrate near open water and fish runs.
  • Shoot with the sun behind you to light the underwing.
  • For flight shots use wide-area tracking and +0.3 to +1 EV against bright sky.
  • Sightings peak in January, February, November and December, which is when you'll have the most chances.

Ethics#

  • The welfare of the animal comes first: if it changes its behaviour because of you, you are too close.
  • Stay on trails, respect closures around nests, leks, dens and haul-outs.
  • Avoid playback and baiting in sensitive seasons; never bait predators.
  • Don't share precise locations of rare, nesting or roosting animals publicly.

More Hawks, Eagles, and Kites#

Red-tailed Hawk Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus Red-shouldered Hawk Red-shouldered HawkButeo lineatus Cooper's HawkAstur cooperii Swainson's HawkButeo swainsoni Broad-winged Hawk Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus Mississippi Kite Mississippi KiteIctinia mississippiensis Sharp-shinned Hawk Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatus

Frequently asked questions#

What lens do I need to photograph a Northern Harrier?

At about 65 cm long, a northern harrier fills a third of a full-frame image at 10 m with roughly 179 mm, or at 20 m with 359 mm.

What shutter speed should I use for a Northern Harrier?

1/800 s when it's still; 1/2500–1/3200 s for action.

When is the best time to photograph a Northern Harrier?

Observations in North America peak in January, February, November and December. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and activity.

Sources & licences#

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources