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Nearly extinct in California since the damming
of the Colorado River, it has been re-introduced to its former lower Colorado
River range east of the Imperial Valley.
I have seen this beautifully-colored hawk hunting in a marshy area of the Imperial Valley and also perched on a Yucca cactus in the nearby Anza-Borrego Desert state park which is on our western border. The sightings were three days apart, so it may have been the same individual. NOTE: If you sight a Harris' Hawk in our area,
please report it to the: Southern California Birdbox Hotline at (818) 952-5502.
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If you are interested in learning more about this bird online - I recommend you start with the Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/infocenter.htmlThey present photographs, songs, identification tips, maps, and life history information for North American birds - including the Harris' Hawk
OTHER OUTSIDE LINKS FOR THIS BIRD:
Harris' Hawk Study - News Release from Texas A&M University, Kingsville, regarding a study on Harris' Hawk behaviour that may account for the popularity of this hawk in the sport of falconry.
Shawnee the Harris' Hawk - A profile with an image of the Harris' Hawk showing the nearly black body with rusty-red shoulders and white wing and tail bands. Displayed by the Wildlife Associates "Animal Ambassadors" Web site which includes info on how to arrange a school visit.
This site is maintained by:
Eldon R. Caldwell
Imperial Valley College
Email: eldonc@imperial.cc.ca.us