Harris Hawk

Harris's Hawk

Parabuteo unicinctus

The Harris's Hawk is a medium-sized bird of prey native to the Americas. It has dark brown feathers with chestnut shoulders and a white rump. Known for hunting in groups, it preys on small mammals and birds. Highly social and intelligent, it is popular in falconry.

CONSERVATION STATUS: LEAST CONCERN

Range

The Harris's Hawk is found primarily in the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America, including areas like northern Argentina and western Brazil.

Fast Facts

  • Description

    The Harris's Hawk has dark brown feathers with a chestnut-colored shoulder band and a white rump patch. It has long, rounded wings and a relatively long tail with dark bands. Its head is dark, and it has a sharp, hooked beak.

  • Diet

    Harris's hawks primarily hunt small to medium-sized mammals (like rabbits and squirrels), birds, and reptiles.

  • Size

    The Harris's Hawk stands about 18-24 inches tall, has a wingspan of 3.9-4.6 feet, and weighs between 0.9-1.5 pounds.

  • Lifespan

    Wild: 10-15 years

    Human care: 20 years

Harris's Hawks perform a unique behavior called "stacking", where they perch on top of each other in a tall, stacked formation. This behavior is often seen when they are resting or waiting for prey, and it helps them keep watch for predators or potential hunting opportunities.

Fun Fact

Our Wildlife Ambassadors

Sammie

Sammie used to be a falconer's hawk, and he was such an impressive hunter that he was even mentioned in a falconry book. However, one day during his hunt, Sammie landed on some exposed electrical wire and got electrocuted, which resulted in the loss of some of his talons. Without these talons, Sammie could not longer hunt for himself and was retired from falconry. Sammie was sent to a facility to be bred in order to pass on his remarkable genes, but it was determined that his electrocution had unfortunately also made him sterile. While at the facility, Sammie contracted West Nile disease, but was able to make a full recovery. He was then transferred to Raptor Hallow to be an education ambassador where he visits schools, nursing homes, and many other places to tell his inspiring story of resilience.

Sammie has been at the sanctuary since 2017

Thunder

Thunder was raised in human care to be an ambassador for his wild counterparts. Known for his impressive speed and agility, he soars through our free flight shows with powerful dives and exceptional skill at catching food mid-air. Thunder is in training to catch a lure to display his natural and astounding hunting behavior for all to see.

Thunder has been at the sanctuary since 2018