20 min

Harris' Hawk Nature's a Hoot

    • Nature

Nicknamed the ‘wolves of the sky’, the Harris’ Hawk is able to collaborate to secure a meal and to boost their chances of evading predators – quite unlike other species of birds of prey. They’re sociable, powerful and agile. These hawks primarily prefer hunting territories of arid scrubland and semi-desert and for much of their recent natural history, this would be the best place to find them. But new research is exploring the reasons why Harris’ Hawks are now opting to co-habit with we humans – moving into suburban areas and taking advantage of what this new habitat has to offer when it comes to the hunt.

Nicknamed the ‘wolves of the sky’, the Harris’ Hawk is able to collaborate to secure a meal and to boost their chances of evading predators – quite unlike other species of birds of prey. They’re sociable, powerful and agile. These hawks primarily prefer hunting territories of arid scrubland and semi-desert and for much of their recent natural history, this would be the best place to find them. But new research is exploring the reasons why Harris’ Hawks are now opting to co-habit with we humans – moving into suburban areas and taking advantage of what this new habitat has to offer when it comes to the hunt.

20 min