4 April 2025
For many raptors courtship season has given way to incubation but this recent video of a western marsh harrier in England reminds me that fancy flying is an important part of choosing a mate. Here are four species going all out in the air.
Western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) (*)
Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) Video description: The dizzying “sky-dancing” of a Golden Eagle is a territorial and courtship display. They dive from great heights and can reach nearly 200 miles per hour.
Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) Peregrines often fly upside down when they’re courting, as shown in the top photo by Chad+Chris Saladin and the one below.
(*) The western marsh harrier of Europe and Africa is in the same genus as our northern harrier (Circus hudsonius)