Another of the great raptors in California (as well as North America and beyond, for that matter) is the Northern Harrier. Unlike a lot of the raptors we see riding high on the thermals, the Northern Harrier swoops down low over the upland grasses and marshes where it finds food, cover, and nesting. The Northern Harrier is a year-round resident of the upper middle part of the United States, as well as a few well-delineated parts of California, namely, the Central Valley, Bay Area, and along the coast in specific sections. Elsewhere the bird is migratory, headed for the Canada and Alaska broadly. Before the Northern Harrier begins to head out in spring, the bird can be seen nearly everywhere its habitat exists. Here's an eBird map of sightings from the end of March. Another map, from August of last year, shows how the population thins out into summer. This is a bird that benefits greatly from Audubon California's work with owners and operators of working lands through the Central Valley. We love this video of a Northern Harrier soaring over the Bolsa Chica Wetlands -- if you look closely you can even spot the patch of white on its tail feathers that is the I.D. giveaway for this species:

(photo by Peter LaTourrette)