Friday Feathered Fact
Harris's Hawk Harris's Hawk Harris's Hawk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Harris’s Hawk — named after Edward Harris in the early 1800s by his friend, John Audubon — is unique amongst the hawks. Living in the Southwest of the US and all the way south to Argentina, this raptor lives in family groups. The alpha-female, which is about 20% larger than the male, leads the family group in a “pack-like” hunt, taking turns to chase down the prey. As part of their social nature, the young born last year often stay with the family to help care for their new siblings born this year before setting off to start their own family. It is not uncommon to see a family of up to 6 or 7 Harris’s Hawk perched together. These hawks also tend to have a broader nesting season and may attempt laying 2 or even 3 clutches in a year. As a species, they have been known to lay eggs in every month of the year.

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