Harris Hawk

 

I had the opportunity while I was travelling in Utah, to accompany a "falconer" for a day. He had several birds in his care; however, this day he had a young Harris Hawk. He was training it to help with his "job" of keeping the local golf courses clear of American Coots. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful bird as well.

    

A handsome hawk of the arid Southwest, Harris's Hawk is a standout with bold markings of dark brown, chestnut red, and white; long yellow legs; and yellow markings on its face. The most social of North American raptors, these birds cooperate at nests and hunt together as a team. When hunting, a group of hawks surround their prey, flush it for another to catch, or take turns chasing it.

This hawk's social nature and relative ease with humans has made it popular among falconers and in education programs.