Is a Harris Hawk a Hawk?

What is a Harris' Hawk? Is a Harris Hawk a Hawk, or is a Harris Hawk a Buzzard? Harris Hawks have many names, the Harris' Hawk, the Harris' Buzzard, the Bay Winged Hawk, the Dusky Hawk, the Dessert Buzzard. With all those names it can be unclear to people new to falconry what kind of bird this species is. One thing is certain though, they are a bird of prey commonly used in falconry and often by falconry beginners.
In this video we go over some of the ways animals are classified, their scientific classification including the genus and species, comparing the Harris Hawk to other Accipiters and Buteos. We look at their falconry classification compared to other broad wings and short wings. We take a look at how the Harris Hawk flies, and how Harris Hawks hunt. And finally we take a look at just the general look of a Harris Hawk compared to Buzzards and True Hawks.
If you enjoy this video then make sure to leave a like and comment and make sure to subscribe!

[@tonyharrishawk5596]

really enjoy all your videos mate keep them coming

[@MercerFalconry]

Thank you, I will do!

[@davidhuth5659]

When I was a kid in America, we had all the named messed up. A peregrine was a duck hawk. A kestrel was a sparrow hawk. A red-tail or any buteo was a chicken hawk and both of our vultures were buzzards. I did not live in the southwest so I have no idea what they called the Harris' hawk/buzzard. Great video! Thanks!

[@MercerFalconry]

Wow that all sounds very confusing 😂

[@drimachuck]

Common names are truly messed up :')))

[@ladystarlightnyc]

Great video! I know appearances are often due to convergent evolution, especially when comparing New World to Old World species, so I'm not suggesting they are related, but they just look SO much like a Black Eagle (Aquila verreauxii)! Beautiful birds.

[@ryanmoodyandlolathepugandn7956]

Hi Dan, fab video as always! I love all your content, the harris ...... hahaa was the bird that got me in to falconry so to not actually know what to call them now is a mystery haha!! 😂 Keep the amazing work coming! ❤🦅

[@MercerFalconry]

A lot of people just call them “A Harris” I don’t know if that’s laziness or they just don’t know what to accurately call them, either way I like to say the birds full species to respect them!

[@gamesgonenuts]

this was very informative hitting the like

[@MercerFalconry]

Thank you, much appreciated!

[@danielbutt5387]

Peggy 🤩🦈🦅

[@MercerFalconry]

She was amazing yesterday, soaring above the trees in the wind!

[@danielbutt5387]

I can't quite say that about Hades. He's was soaring alright 2 and half miles away then decided he'd had enough to eat and is going to camp out in the tree over night 🌙 🌚

[@MegaTerryNutkins]

A few of the American buzzards have accipitrine traits, the red shouldered, grey and roadside buzzards are very interesting birds. There's a recent video on Ben Woodruff's channel about them.

[@MercerFalconry]

I will check it out!

[@NatMart9394]

Harrises crossed with a Golden Eagle in a show last year. It’s imposingly physical presents and the sound it made. ! The ultimate Raptor.

[@MercerFalconry]

Depends how you look at it, it’s either a big Harris’ Hawk or a lousy Golden Eagle

[@NatMart9394]

@@MercerFalconry Do you know they’re all show and no go from good experienced advise, or is your opinion just an assumption ?

[@Yefooo]

Hey Mercer falconry, I just got my 2nd falcon and am looking to upgrade my equipment. Maybe a better tracker or something. Got any recommendations?

[@MercerFalconry]

I use two, an RT Turbo Radio from Marshall on 434, and the Marshall Turbo GPS system. The radio is my safety net in case a bird disappears and then the GPS is just a bit of fun on top to be able to watch the flights back afterwards and see all the stats!

[@papayne]

Enjoy your videos and have a family interest in falconry after finding a possible early relative had been granted one of the first falconry related badges for his use. His name was Robert Fitz-Payne. I would love to get a decorative red hawks lure like he bore if you’re aware of someone that makes them these days? Question: I Virginia, Tennessee and now Georgia, I see pairs of what I thought were Harris hawk’s because they were hunting together. Sometime beside each other, sometimes on opposing sides of a field. Have I misidentified them due to territory limits? What others hunt in pairs? I initially thought maybe Red Tails but heard they don’t hunt like that… Thank you for continued posts on such an interesting topic. Wish I could do it here and help farmers keep the crops safe! Seems like a good way to spend new retirement!

[@MercerFalconry]

Sorry I don’t know anyone, I think the best thing would be to put a post up on a Facebook group like the Falconry Hub, someone must be able to help you. I wouldn’t say they are Harris’ Hawks in those states, they could likely be breeding pairs of something, collecting food for their chicks

[@robertwebster9214]

I have been interested in falconry for years. Just sort of in the back of my mind "that would be cool" never any deep research or effort put in. Watching your channel though, has made me far more interested, I have been reading, looking into Falconry clubs, legislature and licensing. I live in the US, some of the laws are a bit different, overall your channel has immensely helped in basics of training, good books to read and a professional perspective. Thank you for all your content and education!

[@MercerFalconry]

Thank you, you are very welcome!

[@wilgarcia1]

Silly thought. As i child I wondered if Buzzards made a buzzing sound as they flew. lol =P

[@MercerFalconry]

Bees on steroids 😂

[@therian_talonsoflife]

I am American and wondered the same thing. when I first saw "parabuteo" I was like wth does that even mean? I would actually say that The Harris Hawk is actually a hawk and a buzzard. VERY same issue with other raptors in the 20th century.

[@sanuku535]

Polish translation is Myszołów Towarzyski wich basically means Social Buzzard.

[@semitayahudineohassan9157]

GAVIÃO MUITO BONITO.

[@gabrielebrasolin8073]

In Italy We call them "poiana di Harris" which translates into "Harris' buzzard", lovely birds to work with but a friend of mine had a larger than normal female which had a very nasty personality

[@MercerFalconry]

I think the majority of countries in the old world refer to them as a Buzzard. Peggy can definitely be a nasty handful at times!

[@theoverfiend8701]

Iv just met her 😁👍🏻

[@Ninguem12349]

Gavião asa de telha here In Brazil😂

[@Yefooo]

How do I become a member?

[@MercerFalconry]

I think you have to open the video on a desktop and there should be a button underneath the video to join!

[@davyjackson3724]

We call them Harris Hawks in AZ USA.

[@karolinavolkova8064]

In Czech we call them Buzzards. Harris Buzzard. In English it's Hawk. And I am confused about it too. I think Buzzard is more likely. It sounds better and in my opinion it has a more Buzzard shape than Hawk. Comparison of Goshawk and Common Buzzard.

[@MercerFalconry]

I find it so weird that the rest of the world calls them a buzzard but they are called a Hawk in America, and it’s not just these, they have Red Tailed Hawks and Ferruginous Hawks that are also both Buteos. There is so much I admire about American falconry but this one thing is very annoying 😂

[@yolandenorris-clark]

My son thinks you do not get enough credit

[@MercerFalconry]

Thank you, that’s very kind

[@drimachuck]

*boos because you didn't include the clade dinosauria/theropoda between chordata and aves* lol

[@MercerFalconry]

I like to keep the fact they are dinosaurs as my little secret so I know how freaking cool they are 😂

[@wilgarcia1]

why do we need to call them A or B? why not have a C category. maybe something meaning social hunter.

[@MercerFalconry]

I agree, they deserve more respect then to have their scientific name basically just say “they are like this other bird” They should have their own thing!

[@ioanniskavakliotis8059]

Not a buzzard or a hawk.... Eagle genus