The Harris hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) is a mostly brownish-black hawk (18-23") with sienna-colored shoulders and thighs. There is white on the rump and base and tip of the long tail. The wingspan is 40 inches. Immatures look similar to the adults but are more streaked.

The voice is low and harsh, but the Harris is generally silent. These birds inhabit semi-arid woodland and brushland in scrub with mesquite, saguaro and yucca. Here the female lays 2-4 whitish eggs, lightly spotted with brown, in a nest built of sticks and lined with grass, usually located low in small brush, cacti or trees.

The bird is located in the southwest United States all the way south to Argentina in South America.

Their usual prey includes lizards, jack rabbits, quail, or snakes. The birds hunt in family groups and share the food they take. They have also been known to feed on carrion.

Class: Aves | Order: Accipitriformes | Family: Accipitridae | Subfamily: Buteoninae | Genus: Parabuteo | Species: P. unicinctus