Spotted Harrier
Circus assimilis
Family Accipitridae
Vulnerable — NSW: Vulnerable
About
The spotted harrier also known as the smoke hawk, is a large Australasian bird of prey belonging to the family Accipitridae.
How to spot it
The spotted harrier is a medium-sized, slender bird of prey with adult females reaching 58–61 cm. Both adults and juvenile birds have an owl-like facial ruff that creates the appearance of a short, broad head as well as long yellow legs. The spotted harrier's wings feature prominent black tips and the tail is prominently barred and slightly wedge shaped. Adult males are much smaller than the females only growing to 50–55 cm. Adult birds have blue to grey upper parts with a chestnut face and unde
Documented on these trails
Found in
- Dorrigo National Park — Northern Rivers & North Coast NSW hikes