Head to head
Harris's Hawk vs Variable Hawk
Harris's Hawk
VS Variable Hawk
Both are widespread, adaptable hawks of open country, but each is known for a completely different unusual trait.
| Harris's Hawk | Variable Hawk | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Parabuteo unicinctus | Geranoaetus polyosoma |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Defining trait | Cooperative pack hunting in family groups | Extreme individual plumage variation |
| Social behaviour | Hunts in groups of two to six | Typically hunts alone |
| Range | Southwestern United States to South America | High Andes to Patagonia |
| Plumage | Dark brown with chestnut shoulders | Highly variable, pale grey to nearly black |
| Habitat | Desert, grassland | Mountains, grassland |
| Notable use | Popular in falconry | Not specifically noted in falconry |
Harris's Hawk vs Variable Hawk: common questions
Which hawk is known for hunting in groups?
The Harris's hawk is, one of the few raptors documented hunting cooperatively in family groups of two to six birds, unlike the more typically solitary variable hawk.
Which hawk is harder to identify by plumage alone?
The variable hawk is, showing an extraordinary range of individual plumage patterns from pale grey to nearly all dark, compared to the more consistently patterned Harris's hawk.
Where do these two hawks live?
The Harris's hawk ranges across desert and grassland from the southwestern United States to South America, while the variable hawk is found from the high Andes down through Patagonia.