In north Mississippi on 12-23-05, I watched this sub-adult, male Northern Harrier take a Ring-billed Gull in the air. There were quite a few Harriers in the area and a lot of Ring-billed Gulls resting in the fields. The Ring-billed Gulls would just get up and move over as one of these raptors passed low over the ground. This particular gull was slow to move and the Harrier put on a short burst of speed and rode the Ring-billed to the ground. I had a car following me and by the time I had turned around the Ring-bill had been dispatched. I took a few photos as the bird fed.

A northern Harrier Male (15 oz) weights less than a Ring-billed Gull (17 oz), so needless to say this was a surprise. I've seen Harrier's take Green-winged Teal (weight 12 oz) where other duck species usually are unconcerned with a hunting Harrier. Ben Coffey once told me he had watched a Harrier pounce on and drown a coot (20+oz) in shallow water.