Female Juvenile Northern Harrier- Circus cyaneus. 11x15" watercolor on paper.

In honor of the delicate beauty of everything female, I painted the Northern Harrier. Although common, I find myself enamored and entranced with every view of this bird. The young females seem especially vivacious, with the teetering wander to hunt for prey and the dainty image while perching to preen. My goal with the female juvenile harrier was to capture the youth and liveliness in  character, portraying femininity common to all creatures, yet remaining true to the birds identity and wild nature. Perhaps a lofty goal, but worthy of the effort nonetheless.

Adult harriers are sexually dimorphic, but differences can also be seen in juvenile birds as well. Typically, a juvenile Northern Harrier is a cinnamon brown with a beautiful reddish breast. The difference between the male and female is seen in eye color. It becomes a challenge to sex juveniles in the field, as you often see harriers on the wing, and hardly perched. When the chance arises that you find a tolerant youngster, take note of the eye color and any other differences that stand out. I remember a day while photographing harriers with Jerry Liguori, when we were taking shots of what we thought to be an adult female. After reviewing the photos and seeing a few key details, namely eye color, Jerry recognized that the bird was in fact a young male. These particulars can add more fun and excitement to the challenge of raptor ID.

This painting was created while listening the musician Lisa Hannigan. I suggest coupling the visual with a like artist. It is sure to enhance the experience. Enjoy.