Field Guide to Birds of North America
Harris's Hawk
General
Harris's Hawk: Large hawk with dark brown head, neck, back, and belly and rust-brown shoulders, underwing coverts and flanks. Tail is dark brown to almost black with white base and terminal band. Undertail coverts are white. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has streaked breast.
Range and Habitat
Harris's Hawk: Resident from southwestern U.S. to southern Chile, central Argentina, and Paraguay. Inhabits lowland areas, sparse woodlands, and semi-desert; prefers a moderate amount of taller vegetation. Also frequents watercourses and protected canyons.
Listen to Call
Voice Text
"eee eee eee eee"
Interesting Facts
The Harris's Hawk nests in social units that vary from an adult pair to as many as seven individuals, including both adults and immatures.
Cooperative hunting groups are more successful at capturing prey than individuals hunting alone. Groups of five are the most successful.
John James Audubon gave this bird its English name in honor of his ornithological companion, financial supporter, and friend Edward Harris.
A group of hawks has many collective nouns, including a "boil", "knot", "spiraling", "stream", and "tower" of hawks.
Author
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Family
Hawk (Accipitridae)_blue
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Species
Parabuteo unicinctus
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Length17 - 24
Inches
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Wingspan46
Inches
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Harris's Hawk
Harris's Hawk: Large hawk, dark brown head, neck, back, belly and rust-brown shoulders, underwing coverts and flanks. Tail is dark brown to almost black with white base and terminal band. Undertail coverts are white. Legs and feet are yellow. Flies close to ground or soars on thermals and updrafts.
● Song: "eee eee eee eee"
● Foraging & Feeding: Harris's Hawk: Feeds mainly on rodents such as woodrats, mice, and ground squirrels, but takes birds, often in flight, including ducks, quail, doves, rails, and gallinules; in certain regions of Mexico, its primary food is lizards.
● Breeding & nesting: Harris's Hawk: Two to four white to pale blue eggs, marked with brown or lavender, are laid in a shallow platform made of sticks and twigs, lined with green mesquite, leaves, bark, grass, weeds, roots, and moss, and built on top of a mesquite or in a cactus, Spanish bayonet, or other tree less than 30 feet above the ground. Both parents incubate the eggs for 33 to 36 days; often two broods per year.
● Similar species: Harris's Hawk: Red-shouldered Hawk lacks white patch on tail base and has barred rufous underparts.
Flight Pattern
Rapid wing beats followed by short glide., Soars on thermals and updrafts.
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BreedingSolitary nester, Polyandrous
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PopulationUncommon to fairly common
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MigrationNonmigratory
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Weight25.6
Ounces
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