The Grey Ghost

British Columbia, Canada

The Northern Harrier ( Circus hudsonius ) use their sense of hearing to help locate prey. They have an owl-like facial disk to help with directional hearing and soft feathers for a quieter flight. It is usually seen coursing low over fields or marshes, it captures small birds and mammals with a sudden pounce. The male, which is shown in the photo, has pale grey upper parts and throat, while the female plumage is dark brown blotched with rust. The longest lived known bird is 16 years and 5 months, however, adults rarely live more than 8 years. I like this photo because the raptor is looking right at me with it's beautiful yellow eyes.