marsh hawk
Definition
Noun: 1. A common harrier of North America and Europe; nests in marshes and open land: A medium-sized bird of prey (raptor) belonging to the harrier family, known for its distinctive hunting behavior of flying low over open ground. It is also commonly known as the northern harrier.
Usage and Examples
- Noun:
- We spotted a marsh hawk gliding silently over the field, searching for rodents.
- The presence of a marsh hawk is a good indicator of a healthy wetland ecosystem.
- Unlike many hawks, the marsh hawk builds its nest on the ground in marshes or tall grass.
Advanced Usage
- "To quarter like a marsh hawk": To search an area methodically in a back-and-forth pattern, mimicking the bird's characteristic low, coursing flight.
- The search team quartered the field like a marsh hawk, looking for any clues.
Variants and Related Words
- Northern Harrier (n): The modern and more widely used ornithological name for the same bird species ( or ).
- Harrier (n): The general family of long-winged, long-tailed hawks known for low-flight hunting over open country.
- Ring-tailed Hawk (n): An informal name sometimes used, referring to the banded tail pattern of the female and immature birds.
Synonyms
- Northern Harrier: The primary synonym in scientific and birdwatching contexts.
- Hen Harrier: The name used for the very similar or conspecific bird in Europe and Asia.
Related Phrases and Idioms
Note: There are no common phrasal verbs or idioms that use the specific term "marsh hawk." The bird's name is used literally to describe the animal or its behavior.
Noun
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common harrier of North America and Europe; nests in marshes and open land
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