Harris's Hawk Taking Off

Harris's Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) is a large raptor that usually hunts birds, lizards, and small mammals in brush; they exhibit cooperative... more

by Morris Finkelstein

Title

Harris's Hawk Taking Off

Artist

Morris Finkelstein

Medium

Photograph

Description

Harris's Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) is a large raptor that usually hunts birds, lizards, and small mammals in brush; they exhibit cooperative hunting tactics in pairs or trios. They measure about 20 inches in length and about 2 pounds in weight. Adults are boldly marked, tricolored, mostly dark chocolate brown except for yellow beak, yellow legs and feet, rusty red or rufous shoulders, and white uppertail coverts and tail tips. In the United States, they breed in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and sporadically in California; they are also found in parts of Central America and South America. Preferred habitats include desert scrub, grasslands, savannas, and wetlands.

This colorful Harris's Hawk (one of three Harris's Hawks perched together) taking off from its perch on a branch was photographed at the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area in Phoenix, Arizona, shortly after sunrise on 12-29-2021. I used a Nikon D850 camera body and a Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR telephoto lens to capture this image. Settings: 1/320 sec, f/5.6, ISO 3200. This Habitat Restoration Area stretches along five miles of the Salt River and is home to the Nina Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center.

I am honored that my photograph was featured in the Fine Art America groups:
Gentlemen Club Art Group, 1-5-2022
10 Plus, 1-7-2022
New FAA Uploads, 1-7-2022
Predators Of The World, 1-8-2022
Go Take A Hike Photography, 1-8-2022
Wildlife One-A-Day, 1-26-2022
USA Photographers Only, 1-28-2022
Showcasing The South, 1-29-2022
The 200 Club, 1-31-2022
Mind-Blowing Photography, 2-10-2022
Camera Art, 3-5-2022
A Birding Group - Wings, 3-19-2022
All About Birds, 2-17-2024
Natural Beauty, 2-17-2024

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Uploaded

January 3rd, 2022