The Harris's Hawk is a medium-sized bird of prey recognizable by its dark brown-black plumage, chestnut-colored shoulders, and white tail tips.
The Harris's Hawk is found in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and further south into South America, including Peru and Chile. This bird prefers dry, open areas such as deserts, savannas, and semi-arid scrublands, but it can also be found in open forests and along the edges of wetlands.
The diet of the Harris's Hawk is varied and mainly consists of small mammals, such as rabbits and rodents, but also includes birds, reptiles, and occasionally large insects. It is known for its unique hunting technique of hunting in groups, which is uncommon among birds of prey. This social hunting behavior allows them to catch larger prey than if they were hunting alone.
Harris's Hawks are highly intelligent and social birds. They often live in family groups with a hierarchy within the group. During hunting, they cooperate to locate and capture their prey. They are also popular in falconry due to their trainability and willingness to work with humans. Additionally, they are territorial, with pairs defending their area against intruders. Their call is a sharp, hoarse scream that is often heard in their habitat.
Ronald Pol (1977) is a nature photographer from Deventer, the Netherlands. It was during a trip to Africa that his passion for nature photography started. The main focus is on the photography of animals (portraits and behaviour), but a variety of other subjects are photographed as well... Read more…