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Harris's Hawk


Harris's Hawk
Photo Information
Copyright: Ricardo Kuehn (ryyck) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 24 W: 0 N: 176] (994)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon A60
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-10-28 20:05
Viewed: 1625
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Harris's Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Parabuteo
Species: P. unicinctus

The Harris' Hawk or Harris Hawk (formerly the Bay-winged Hawk), Parabuteo unicinctus, is a medium-large bird of prey which breeds from the southwestern USA south to Chile and central Argentina. It is the only member of the genus Parabuteo (Ridgway, 1874).

Its habitat is sparse woodland and semi-desert, as well as marshes (with some trees) in some parts of its range (Howell and Webb 1994). It nests in a tree and lays 2–4 eggs, incubated for 28 days to hatching.

It has blackish brown plumage with chestnut forewings (above and below) and thighs. The end of the tail and the rump are white. It has a length of 60 cm and a wingspan of 1.2 m; the average weight is about 900 g (2 pounds). Females are typically 10% bigger than males.

A Harris' Hawk can just about catch and kill a rabbit, but its natural prey are small rodents and reptiles.

Harris' Hawks' social behavior is unusual for raptors. Young may stay with their parents for up to three years, helping to raise later broods. They also hunt together, groups of two to six birds often cooperating to flush and then capture prey. In contrast, the vast majority of raptors are solitary hunters.

This social behavior gives Harris' Hawks an easygoing nature that makes them desirable captive birds. Since about 1980, Harris' Hawk have been increasingly used in falconry and are now the most popular hawks in the West (outside of Asia) for that purpose, as they are the easiest to train and the most affectionate.[1] (http://users.cybercity.dk/~ccc12787/raptors/parabuteo.html)

Hunting with Harris' Hawks often works best with two or more birds. (In contrast most other raptors cannot be flown together, as they will attack each other.) When prey is flushed, the birds can work together to corner the animal – compensating for their relatively low acceleration and speed. Harris' Hawks will happily treat the falconer as a hunting partner, and will follow from tree to tree and perch until the falconer flushes a rabbit from the bushes!

Source: http://www.answers.com/harris%20hawk
khris_rino, fiyo, paulbright, iglootrek, Miss_Piggy has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Very informative note on a highly interesting bird. The innovative POV looks fantastic and the sharpness of the bird's eye makes the image standout from the creamy background. Nice work and TFS!!

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3068 W: 231 N: 6168] (21078)
  • [2005-10-29 3:19]

Great shot, Ricardo. The POV and pose are exceptional. Very sharp details on the head. You have captured the intensity and fierceness of this beautiful bird of prey. Well done and TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 987 W: 5 N: 2764] (10622)
  • [2005-10-29 9:12]

Hello Ricardo,
Very good capture. Details are sharp. Colors are very natural and the composition is good.
Well done&TFS

very beautiful action shot. I like the ferocity in its face. The note is very informative and helpful. TFS!

Excellent shot Ricardo,
Good colour, detail and sharpness.
Well composed and good exposure.
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-10-30 6:41]

Wow! What a great shot; the POV is unbelievable. Well composed and exposed. Sharp details. How did you shoot this? Where were you standing?? Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

One of my favourite.
Very nice action shot.
Very complete note on Harry.
Can't understand why this picture didn't score more points.

Hallo Rick
Another one of your splendid images. A stunning capture of this big eyed sharp mouthed hawk. I love the strong and fierceful characteristics shown and the very dark plumage highlights this factor even more. I would love to have an opportunity like you had to photograph such a beautiful bird. It must be one thrilling experience. Good composition, good focus, good detail, good background and good light. If I left out anything……..that was also supposed to be included in my comments so it means it is also good. Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards
Anna

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