Head to head
Short-Eared Owl vs Northern Harrier
The short-eared owl and northern harrier are not closely related, one an owl and the other a hawk, yet both hunt the same open grassland and marsh habitat with a strikingly similar low, searching flight style.
| Short-Eared Owl | Northern Harrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Asio flammeus | Circus hudsonius |
| Type of bird | Owl | Hawk |
| Flight style | Floppy, moth-like wingbeat | Low, slow quartering glide |
| Hunts partly by sound | Not especially | Yes, via an owl-like facial disc |
| Nests on the ground | Yes | Yes |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Decreasing | Decreasing |
| Habitat | Grassland and wetlands | Grassland and wetlands |
Short-Eared Owl vs Northern Harrier: common questions
Why do the short-eared owl and northern harrier hunt so similarly despite not being related?
Both species evolved independently to hunt the same open grassland and marsh habitat, and a low, searching flight close to the ground turns out to be an effective way to spot or hear small mammals hidden in vegetation, so both an owl and a hawk arrived at broadly similar hunting styles despite belonging to entirely different bird families.
Which of the two hunts more by sound rather than sight?
The northern harrier is the more sound-reliant hunter of the pair, using a distinct owl-like facial disc to funnel sound toward its ears, an adaptation that lets it locate prey hidden in dense grass or marsh vegetation nearly as effectively as by sight, a trait the short-eared owl does not rely on to the same degree.
Do both birds nest on the ground?
Yes, both the short-eared owl and northern harrier build their nests directly on open ground within grass or marsh vegetation, an unusual habit for the harrier's hawk relatives, most of which nest in trees, and one shared here by both species despite their very different ancestries.