Last updated November 5, 2026
Introduction
It is a joy to see a Northern Harrier, with its owl-like face, gracefully coursing low over open habitat in search of an unsuspecting mouse (Mus musculus) or vole (Microtus arvalis). It is especially thrilling in Virginia, where the Northern Harrier is a rare breeder, primarily associated with extensive coastal marshes (Watts and Rottenborn 2001). In recent decades, harriers in Virginia have also taken to breeding in inland agricultural areas (Bryan Watts, personal communication). As such, they join species like Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) and Henslow’s Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii) in belonging to two distinct bird communities, marsh birds and grassland birds, both of which rely on open herbaceous habitats.
Breeding Distribution
During the Second Breeding Bird Atlas, there were too few breeding observations to develop distribution models for the Northern Harrier. Please see the Breeding Evidence section for more information on breeding distribution.
Breeding Evidence
The Northern Harrier was a confirmed breeder in just one location: on July 4, 2016, adults were observed feeding a juvenile near marsh habitat in the vicinity of Saxis Wildlife Management Area in Accomack County on the Eastern Shore of Virginia (Figure 1). In addition, there were reports of possible breeding in nine blocks (in Accomack, Augusta, Bedford, Richmond, and Shenandoah Counties and the city of Poquoson) based on the presence of individuals during the appropriate time of year. Those individuals were all observed in open upland habitats spanning all three regions of the state. During the First Atlas there were only two blocks with confirmed breeders, one in Accomack County and one in the city of Poquoson (Figure 2).
For more general information on the breeding habits of this species, please refer to All About Birds.
Population Status
As it is a rare breeder in the state, Norther Harrier was detected at only two locations during point count surveys, preventing the development of an abundance model. Additionally, Northern Harriers are detected in low numbers by the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), such that reliable BBS trends could not be calculated for Virginia or even at broader regional scales (Hostetler et al. 2023). Anecdotally, however, the species may be declining in the Chesapeake Bay region of Virginia. It is estimated that a minimum of 25 breeding pairs may have inhabited the Virginia Coastal Plain based on non-systematic surveys in the 1990s (Watts and Rottenborn 2001). Only a quarter as many are believed to currently remain in this region (Bryan Watts, personal communication).
Conservation
The breeding population of Northern Harrier in Virginia is small and at or near the southern edge of the species’ range. Virginia lies well within the harrier’s wintering range, however, and during the winter months the species is found in higher numbers and is well distributed across the Commonwealth. Long-term data (1970-2021) from the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count (CBC) suggest a stable winter population in Virginia (Meehan et al. 2022). However, due to more recent short-term decreases documented by the CBC, the 2025 Virginia Wildlife Action Plan classifies the Northern Harrier’s wintering population as a Tier III Species of Greatest Conservation Need (High Conservation Need) (VDWR 2025).
Wintering harriers in Virginia are associated with both wetlands and agricultural lands, such as pastures and hayfields. Loss and conversion of these habitats is a threat to harriers. Loss of marshland due to ditching, draining, development and sea-level rise is an ongoing concern for a broad suite of marsh-dependent bird species, and is best addressed through wetland protection and by assisting the natural migration of marshes into adjoining uplands. Loss of upland grassland habitat through development can be mitigated through promotion of conservation and agricultural land easements, implementation of agricultural subsidy programs, and local land use planning efforts (VDWR 2025).
An additional concern is a reduction of the Northern Harrier’s prey base through agricultural intensification and the use of insecticides and rodenticides (Smith et al. 2020). One such class of pesticide, known as neonicotinoids, could also potentially have direct effects on the health and survivorship of harriers that consume prey exposed to treated seeds; however, this topic requires further research.
Interactive Map
The interactive map contains up to six Atlas layers (probability of occurrence for the First and Second Atlases, change in probability of occurrence between Atlases, breeding evidence for the First and Second Atlases, and abundance for the Second Atlas) that can be viewed one at a time. To view an Atlas map layer, mouse over the layer box in the upper left. County lines and physiographic regional boundaries (Mountains and Valleys, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain) can be turned on and off by checking or unchecking the box below the layer box. Within the map window, users can hover on a block to see its value for each layer and pan and zoom to see roads, towns, and other features of interest that are visible beneath a selected layer.
View Interactive Map in Full Screen
References
Hostetler, J. A., J. R. Sauer, J. E. Hines, D. Ziolkowski, and M. Lutmerding (2023). The North American breeding bird survey, analysis results 1966–2022. U.S. Geological Survey, Laurel, MD, USA. https://doi.org/10.5066/P9SC7T11.
Meehan, T. D., G. S. LeBaron, K. Dale, A. Krump, N. L. Michel and C. B. Wilsey (2022). Trends in relative abundance for birds wintering in the continental USA and Canada: Audubon Christmas Bird Counts, 1966-2021, version 4.0. National Audubon Society, New York, New York, USA.
Smith, K. G., S. R. Wittenberg, R. B. Macwhirter, and K. L. Bildstein (2020). Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (P. G. Rodewald, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.norhar2.01.
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR 2025) (2025). Virginia wildlife action plan. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Henrico, VA, USA. 506 pp.
Watts, B. D., and S. C. Rottenborn (2001). Breeding status of the Northern Harrier in coastal Virginia. The Raven 72:153–157.
