Harris's Hawk

Least Concern

Parabuteo unicinctus

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About

The Harris's Hawk, also known as the Bay-winged Hawk or Dusky Hawk, is a medium-large raptor that breeds from the southwestern United States south to Chile and central Argentina. It is notable for its cooperative hunting behavior, often hunting in groups, a trait uncommon among raptors. This social behavior makes it a popular bird in falconry.

Size & lifespan

Length: 45-59 cm (18-23 in)
Wingspan: 100-120 cm (39-47 in)
Weight: 500-1600 g (1.1-3.5 lbs)
Lifespan: 10-12 years in the wild, up to 25 years in captivity
Diet: Carnivore, primarily preying on small mammals (rabbits, rodents), birds (quail, doves), and reptiles (lizards).

Physical characteristics

Plumage: Adults are predominantly dark brown to blackish, with chestnut (rufous) shoulders, wing linings, and thighs. The tail is long and black with a distinctive white base and a white terminal band. The underparts are dark, contrasting with the rufous areas.
Beak shape: Strong, hooked beak, dark gray to black with a yellow cere.
Eye color: Dark brown.
Leg color: Yellow legs and feet with black talons.
Distinguishing features: The combination of dark body plumage, prominent rufous shoulders and thighs, and a black tail with a white base and white tip is diagnostic. The yellow cere and legs are also key features.
Juvenile appearance: Juveniles are streaked and mottled, appearing much browner than adults. They have a buffy or whitish belly with heavy dark streaking, and the rufous patches are less distinct. The tail still shows the white base and tip, but often has more irregular barring. They gradually acquire adult plumage over 2-3 years.
Seasonal changes: No significant seasonal plumage changes; plumage remains consistent year-round.
Sexual dimorphism: Females are typically larger and heavier than males, but plumage is identical.

How to identify

1
Plumage Coloration
Look for the overall dark brown to black body, contrasting sharply with the bright rufous (chestnut) shoulders, wing linings, and thighs. This combination is unique among North American raptors.
2
Tail Pattern
Observe the tail: it is black with a distinct white base and a white terminal band. This 'white sandwich' on the tail is a key field mark.
3
Yellow Cere and Legs
Note the bright yellow cere (fleshy area above the beak) and yellow legs and feet. This provides a good contrast with the dark plumage.
4
Social Behavior
If you see multiple raptors hunting cooperatively or perching together, especially in arid regions, it's a strong indicator of Harris's Hawks. This behavior is highly unusual for other raptors in its range.
5
Flight Profile
In flight, look for the rufous underwing coverts and the distinctive tail pattern. They have broad, rounded wings and a relatively long tail.

Habitat & range

Biomes: Arid and semi-arid regions, including deserts, scrublands, savannas, and open woodlands.
Geographic range: Southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, southern California), Baja California, Mexico, Central America, and South America south to Chile and central Argentina.
Elevation range: Typically found from sea level up to 1,000 meters (3,300 feet), occasionally higher in some parts of its range.
Preferred environments: Prefers areas with scattered trees, cacti (especially saguaros), or tall shrubs for perching and nesting, interspersed with open hunting grounds. Often found near riparian corridors in arid landscapes.

Behavior

Activity time: Diurnal, most active during daylight hours.
Feeding habits: Highly cooperative hunters, often hunting in groups of 2-6 individuals. They employ various strategies, including flushing prey for each other, encircling prey, or taking turns pursuing. They are opportunistic predators, primarily taking small to medium-sized prey. They often perch conspicuously on elevated spots to scan for prey.
Social behavior: Unusually social for a raptor, often living and hunting in family groups or small cooperative packs. They share prey and participate in communal nesting and raising of young. This social structure is a key distinguishing feature.
Flight pattern: Strong, direct flight with powerful wing beats, interspersed with glides. They can soar efficiently on thermals. When hunting, they often fly low to the ground, weaving through vegetation.
Migration pattern: Generally resident throughout its range, though some northern populations may undertake short-distance movements in response to food availability or harsh weather.
Territoriality: Family groups defend a communal territory, especially around nesting and roosting sites. They will aggressively defend against intruders, including other raptors.

Song & calls

Song: Not known for a complex song. Vocalizations are primarily calls.
Call: A harsh, raspy, and often repeated 'kreeee-ah' or 'reeee-ah' call. Also produces a series of short, sharp 'kek-kek-kek' notes, especially when agitated or communicating within the group. Young birds have begging calls.
When they vocalize: Most vocal during breeding season, when defending territory, or when communicating with group members during hunting or roosting.

Breeding & reproduction

Breeding season: Varies geographically, but generally from late winter to early summer (e.g., February-July in the US Southwest). Can have multiple broods in a good year.
Nesting habits: Nests are typically large, bulky structures made of sticks, often lined with softer materials like leaves, grass, and bark. They are usually built in tall trees (e.g., mesquite, saguaro cactus, palo verde) or on utility poles. Nests are often reused year after year.
Clutch size: 2-4 eggs, occasionally 1 or 5.
Egg description: Typically 2-4 eggs, dull white or pale bluish-white, sometimes faintly spotted with brown.
Incubation period: 31-36 days, primarily by the female, though the male may assist.
Fledging period: 38-45 days after hatching. Young remain dependent on parents and other group members for several weeks to months after fledging.
Parental care: Both parents participate in incubation and feeding of young. In cooperative breeding groups, other adults (often offspring from previous broods) may also assist in raising the young, bringing food to the nest and helping to defend it.

Where to find

Desert and Scrubland

Look in arid and semi-arid environments with scattered trees, large cacti (like saguaros), and dense scrub. They are common in the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts.

Riparian Areas

Often found along washes and rivers where taller trees provide nesting and perching sites within their desert habitat.

Utility Poles and Towers

They frequently use man-made structures like utility poles, cell towers, and even buildings as elevated perches for hunting and roosting.

Field tips

Scan Elevated Perches. Harris's Hawks often perch conspicuously on the tops of saguaro cacti, mesquite trees, utility poles, or other high points, making them relatively easy to spot.
Look for Group Activity. Keep an eye out for multiple raptors interacting, hunting together, or sharing a perch. Their cooperative behavior is a strong clue.
Listen for Calls. Their harsh, raspy calls can often draw attention to their presence, especially when they are communicating within their group.
Visit Known Hotspots. Areas like the Santa Cruz Flats in Arizona or parts of South Texas are well-known for reliable Harris's Hawk sightings.

Similar species

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

Red-tailed Hawks are generally larger, have a reddish-brown tail (in adults), and lack the prominent rufous shoulders and thighs of the Harris's Hawk. Their underparts are typically paler with a dark belly band. Red-tails are solitary hunters.

Common Black Hawk

Buteogallus anthracinus

Common Black Hawks are entirely black with a single broad white band on the tail (sometimes two narrower bands in juveniles). They lack the rufous plumage of the Harris's Hawk and have a different body shape, often appearing stockier.

Zone-tailed Hawk

Buteo albonotatus

Zone-tailed Hawks are also dark-bodied but lack the rufous patches. Their tail has several narrow white bands (adults) or is mostly dark (juveniles), contrasting with the single white base and tip of the Harris's Hawk. They often mimic Turkey Vultures in flight.

Quick facts

Social Raptor:: One of the few raptor species that hunts cooperatively in groups.
Distinctive Plumage:: Dark body with rufous shoulders/thighs and a black tail with white base and tip.
Habitat:: Arid and semi-arid regions of the Americas.
Falconry Favorite:: Highly valued in falconry due to its intelligence and social nature.

Fun facts

Harris's Hawks are one of the few raptor species known to hunt cooperatively, often working in groups to flush and capture prey. This strategy allows them to take down larger prey than they could individually.
They are sometimes called the 'Wolves of the Sky' due to their pack-hunting behavior.
In some areas, Harris's Hawks have adapted to urban environments, nesting on artificial structures and hunting in parks and open spaces.
The species was named after American ornithologist Edward Harris by John James Audubon.

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Parabuteo
Species: unicinctus

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