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Harris's Hawk

Silhouette HawksHawks
Harris's HawkParabuteo unicinctus
  • ORDER: Accipitriformes
  • FAMILY: Accipitridae

Basic Description

A handsome hawk of the arid Southwest, Harris's Hawk is a standout with bold markings of dark brown, chestnut red, and white; long yellow legs; and yellow markings on its face. The most social of North American raptors, these birds cooperate at nests and hunt together as a team. When hunting, a group of hawks surround their prey, flush it for another to catch, or take turns chasing it. This hawk's social nature and relative ease with humans has made it popular among falconers and in education programs.

More ID Info
image of range map for Harris's Hawk
Year-roundBreedingMigrationNonbreeding
Range map provided by Birds of the World
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Find This Bird

Look out for these raptors on both natural and manmade perches. Harris's Hawks tend to choose perches with a good view of the landscape, so look up. Their dark coloring and predilection to perch in groups will make them stand out from other raptor species in their range.

Other Names

  • Busardo Mixto (Spanish)
  • Buse de Harris (French)
  • Cool Facts