Common name: BAYWING HAWK
Scientific name: Parabuteo unicinctus
Identifying characteristics:
The general plumage to this species is sooty-brown to black, with bright chestnut on shoulders and thighs, and white on the rump and tail tip. The cere, eyelids, and legs are bright yellow. Different from other hawks in that it remains in family groups, it may be identified from its social habits.
Range:
The species is found from southwestern Louisiana to Kansas, southeastern California and Texas, and down into Mexico.
Habitat:
The Harris hawk prefers semi-desert and dry sparse woodland, often in the vicinity of damp or wet areas.
Nesting:
The nest is a small, often flimsy, platform-like structure of sticks, twigs, weeds, and roots, with a lining of greenery, moss, and bark. The birds use any suitable tree, and the nest if rarely more than 30 feet high. 2-4 eggs are laid.
Feeding habits:
Mammals from the size of rats to rabbits and medium-sized birds have all be recorded as prey by this species.
Conservation status:
Numbers are reducing in some areas, and threatened status is being considered.
