Harris's Hawk

The Harris's Hawk is a medium-large raptor of arid and semi-arid landscapes, instantly recognizable by its dark chocolate-brown body, chestnut shoulder patches ("bay wings"), and a long black tail crossed with a broad white band at the base and tip. Its legs are long and yellow, and the cere and facial skin are also yellow, giving it a distinctive look among American hawks.

What truly sets this species apart is its social behavior. Harris's Hawks live and hunt in family groups of two to seven birds, a highly unusual trait among diurnal raptors, most of which are solitary hunters. This cooperative strategy allows them to take down prey too large or fast for a single hawk, and has made the species a favorite subject of behavioral researchers.

Key Field Marks

• Overall dark brown body with rich chestnut-red patches on the shoulders (lesser wing coverts) and thighs
• Long, black tail with a broad white band at the base and a narrow white tip
• Long yellow legs and a yellow cere/face
• Broad, rounded wings often held in a shallow V while soaring

Similar Species

• Red-tailed Hawk: much bulkier, lacks chestnut shoulder patches, and shows a rufous (not banded black-and-white) tail in adults.
• Common Black Hawk: overall blacker with a single broad white tail band and no chestnut shoulders.
• Zone-tailed Hawk: appears all-black in flight but lacks chestnut patches and has a different tail pattern; also soars in vulture-like flocks rather than family groups.

Range

Harris's Hawks are year-round residents from the southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) south through Mexico and Central America into much of South America.

Habitat

They favor open desert with scattered saguaro cacti, mesquite brushland, and semi-arid scrub, often near washes or riparian corridors that provide taller perches and nest sites. They have also adapted well to suburban desert edges in cities like Tucson and Phoenix. This species is largely non-migratory, remaining on territory year-round.

Cooperative Hunting

Harris's Hawks are best known for hunting in coordinated groups, sometimes flushing prey by relay-chasing it from perch to perch, or surrounding a rabbit from multiple angles at once. Group members also share kills and take turns as sentinels, and several birds may help incubate and feed young at a single nest in a system called cooperative breeding.

Voice

Calls include a harsh, grating scream or wail, often given when defending territory or communicating within the family group.

Nesting

Nests are bulky platforms of sticks built in trees, cacti (including saguaros), or on utility structures. Clutch size is typically two to four eggs, and helpers beyond the breeding pair frequently assist in raising the young.