Harris's Hawk by David Whited

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Harris's Hawk

David Whited

Harris's Hawk

Watercolor

9 x 12 in

Inv: WC-1223

Harris's Hawk watercolor on 140 lb paper. The Harris's hawk (*Parabuteo unicinctus*) is a striking medium-to-large raptor native to the arid and semi-arid regions of the Americas, ranging from the southwestern United States down through Central and South America. It has a rich, dark chocolate-brown plumage accented by bold chestnut-red patches on its shoulders and thighs, with a distinctive white rump and a white-tipped black tail that make it easy to identify in flight. It has a relatively long tail and broad wings, giving it an agile, maneuverable flight style well-suited to hunting in dense desert scrub and mesquite thickets. One of the most socially advanced raptors in the world, the Harris's hawk is famous for hunting cooperatively in family groups — a behavior extremely rare among birds of prey — allowing them to take down prey much larger than any individual bird could manage alone. Their fierce yellow-orange eyes, hooked beak, and powerful talons round out the appearance of a supremely capable and intelligent predator.