harrier

Harrier is a common name for several species of birds of prey in the genus Circus, a group within the hawk family (Accipitridae). Harriers are medium-sized raptors known for their low, flapping flight and for hovering while scanning the ground before striking prey. They occur across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, with the Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) in North America and the Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) in Eurasia among the best known.

Harrier also refers to a family of jet-powered aircraft capable of vertical or short takeoff and landing (V/STOL). Developed by Hawker Siddeley in the United Kingdom and later produced by British Aerospace, the Harrier family includes the Sea Harrier naval variants and the land-based GR variants, as well as the AV-8B Harrier II used by the United States and several allied air forces. The aircraft’s vectored thrust and compact design enabled operations from small carriers and improvised airfields, and it saw combat in conflicts such as the Falklands War and the Gulf War.

The term Harrier thus has distinct meanings in ornithology and military aviation, with no direct connection other than the shared name.