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A dark brown Harris's hawk with rusty shoulders perched on a branch.
Photo: Alan Vernon, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Harris's Hawk

Parabuteo unicinctus

A dark brown hawk of the Americas' dry lands, nicknamed the "wolf of the sky" because family groups hunt together.

🦅 Birds of Prey
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About the Harris's Hawk

Harris's hawks live from the southwestern United States through Central America into South America, in scrublands and savannas with scattered trees. They are 18 to 22 inches long with wings 3.5 to 4 feet across. Look for the white band at the base of the tail and rusty-red feathers on the thighs and wings. Family groups often hunt together, surrounding a hiding place or taking turns chasing prey such as rabbits.[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name
Parabuteo unicinctus[1]
Size
18 to 22 inches long, with a wingspan of 3.5 to 4 feet.[1]
Weight
1.5 to 2.5 pounds.[1]
Lifespan
About 10 to 12 years in the wild. 20 to 25 in human care.[1]
Diet
Carnivore. Small mammals and birds such as rabbits and pigeons, plus snakes and lizards.[1]
Habitat
Dry scrublands and savannas with scattered trees, farmland and marshes.[1]
Where it lives
The southwestern United States, Central America and South America.[1]
Group life
Alone or in pairs in most places; family groups hunt together in some regions.[1]
Babies
Up to five eggs, incubated 33 to 36 days. Chicks fly at about 6 weeks.[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2016).[2]

Fun facts

  • Harris's hawks sometimes perch stacked on top of each other, up to four high.[1]
  • In some places, family groups hunt together and take turns eating.[1]
  • Males make dramatic vertical dives to impress females.[1]

Vocabulary

raptor
A bird of prey with sharp talons and a hooked beak, such as a hawk, eagle or owl.
talon
A sharp, curved claw on a bird of prey's foot.
cooperate
To work together toward the same goal.
wingspan
The distance from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other.
scrubland
Land covered with low bushes and small trees.

See it in person

Sources

  1. [1] Zoo Atlanta. “Harris Hawk.” https://zooatlanta.org/animal/harris-hawk/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
  2. [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Parabuteo unicinctus (Harris's Hawk).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22695838/93529685 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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