Parabuteo unicinctus
The Harris's Hawk, *Parabuteo unicinctus*, is a striking medium-large raptor famed for its distinctive dark brown plumage, contrasting chestnut-rufous shoulder patches (coverts) and thighs, and a bold white rump and undertail coverts. Its long tail is black with a white base and a narrow white tip, making it easily identifiable in flight. Averaging 46-59 cm (18-23 in) in length with a wingspan of 106-120 cm (42-47 in) and weighing 700-1600 g (1.5-3.5 lbs), females are typically 10-40% larger ...
Found primarily in arid and semi-arid landscapes, the Harris's Hawk inhabits open woodlands, scrublands, deserts with scattered trees or cacti, and even urban peripheries, generally at low to moderate elevations.
Their diet is diverse and opportunistic, primarily consisting of small to medium-sized mammals (e.g., rabbits, ground squirrels), birds, reptiles, and sometimes large insects, often captured through cooperative hunting.
Harris's Hawks are diurnal raptors, often perching conspicuously on tall structures, trees, or cacti. Their most remarkable behavioral trait is cooperative hunting; family groups, sometimes numbering six or more individuals, will strategically pursue prey, flushing it out for others to capture. T...
The Harris's Hawk has a broad distribution spanning from the southwestern United States through Mexico, Central America, and into much of South America, reaching as far south as central Argentina and Chile. In the U.S., their primary range includes Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and parts of Califor...
Least Concern
- Harris's Hawks are one of the few raptor species worldwide known to hunt cooperatively, often in 'packs' of three to six birds, much like wolves. - They are exceptionally intelligent and highly trainable, making them the most popular species for falconry in North America and Europe. - These soc...