Photo Discussion
Category: Friendly Praise Archive

Harris's hawk is a dual personality, a sort of Jekyll and Hyde character. A casual acquaintance with this species will probably show one or more, probably a pair, of these hawks sitting in the top of a tree that rises above the general scrub, sitting quietly apparently taking little interest in their surroundings as they soak up the morning sun. Presently they will take flight, mounting into the air in easy spirals, higher and higher into the blue, and that will probably be the last you will see of them. But to see this hawk in action one has to be afield early while the mists still hang over the resacas. Then Mr. Hyde appears, a flutter of wings as a flock of teal rise in confusion with a dark shape striking right and left among them with all the dash of a goshawk. If unsuccessful, the next attack may be on a group of small herons, one of which may be singled out and followed until killed. Very often a pair of these hawks join forces to secure their quarry

Jim Baines