They fly at about 45 days old. I have often watched the fledglings calling shrilly and pursuing their parents until they drop any food they might be carrying. First winter harriers have brown eyes, dark brown plumage with an obvious white nape patch. As the birds get older the eyes and the plumage gets paler. Very old birds can appear almost grey white.
Females are larger than the males.
The hawk appears in Maori mythology in the story of Maui, where we are told that the colour of its plumage is the result of it having been scorched by the fire of Mahuika when that being tried to destroy Maui. Everywhere in the world raptors are in decline. It is good to know that Kahu, the harrier, is one raptor who is holding his own.