the spotted harrier, sometimes known as the smoke hawk, is a medium-sized australasian bird of prey. the bird has a distinct facial ruff, much like ones frequently found on owls, that gives them the appearance of a broad head in relation to their body. the tail is prominently barred with black markings, and the wing tips are black as well. the bird stands tall on long yellow legs, a distinguishing feature that makes them easy to recognize. like many other members of the family accipitridae, they are sexually dimorphic, with females being significantly larger than males. they are terrestrial birds often found in open grasslands and woodlands; while they are most often spotted in native grassland, they can also be found in agricultural land and inland wetlands. they primarily feed on terrestrial mammals, ranging from bandicoots to small rodents, but will also hunt small birds, reptiles, and even large insects on occasion. in the past, the species heavily depended on introduced rabbits for prey, as many of their original prey sources suffered sharp population declines. however, after the spread of rabbit calicivirus, the numbers of introduced rabbits dropped sharply, and the birds were forced to once again diversify their diets. spotted harriers lay small clutches of 2-4 eggs. clutches are laid within stick nests lined with eucalyptus leaves; females are primarily responsible for building the nest. they are most vocal during the breeding season, when males deliver food to their mates or when defending territory, but are largely quiet otherwise. they are currently designated as a species of least concern, with a large population size and broad range.
