Thursday, March 5, 2015

Harris Hawk

Harris Hawk
 The Harris hawk is a colorful medium sized hawk. They are found in Mexico, Central and South America. In the United States they can be found in the southwest, particularly Texas and Arizona. These pictures where taken in south Texas.
Harris Hawk
 They are typically found in arid scrubland, tropical deciduous forest, mangrove swamps, and open grasslands habitats. They stay on their breeding territory all year long and do not typically migrate. They eat primarily small mammals but will also eat birds, lizards, snakes and large insects.
Harris Hawk
Young Harris hawks often stay with their parents for up to three years after they fledge. These family groups will often hunt together in pack type fashion. One bird will often flush the prey and chase it to where other members of the "pack" are waiting in ambush. In much of their territory trees are sparse so Harris hawks will often perch on the back of another Harris hawk in a behavior called stacking. This last photo is an immature Harris hawk.

8 comments:

Kate said...

Your photos are always professional and excellent with informative commentary. I appreciate your willingness to educate!

A Colorful World said...

Fantastic Harris Hawk shots! They are one of my favorite raptors since we live in Tucson.

The Furry Gnome said...

Fabulous shots!

Roger Owen Green said...

beautiful, if ferocious, bird.

ROG, ABCW

Stewart M said...

Cracking looking BOP - I struggle to get such images!

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

roamingpursuits said...

Majestic creatures.

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Beautiful, I recently shared my Falconer friend's new Harris Hawk too~

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the commentary I like also.

The bird is so magestic .