The Harris's Hawks of San Diego County

When most people visit San Diego, they hit the beaches.  Or Balboa Park, or Old Town, or the many other iconic San Diego destinations.  Generally speaking, they do not drive an hour east into the desert to the tiny border town of Jacumba Hot Springs.  But all those people on the beaches are missing out on seeing some very special birds that have moved into the neighborhood from across state lines, and now call the quiet town of Jacumba, California home.

It probably goes without saying that a high priority on my somewhat unique list of things to do on our recent visit to San Diego was to make the drive over to Jacumba to find these birds.  But, you might ask, what kind of bird would entice me away from the heart of sunny San Diego, into a tiny town of 597 people, nestled in the rocky desert and known for its "magical, mystical waters," "energy vortex," and excellent view of the border wall?

The answer: Harris's Hawks.

Most commonly a resident of scrubby desert regions in Arizona, Texas and Mexico (as well as farther south in parts of South America), a couple of groups of these unique hawks have taken up residence a little farther west, where they can reliably be found in remote parts of San Diego county, including the town of Jacumba.  

And let me tell you, these super-cool raptors were well worth taking the time and effort to find!

Large and dark, Harris's Hawks sport gorgeous chocolatey brown plumage, with bright chestnut feathers on their shoulders and upper legs (which I think make them look a bit like they're wearing fluffy reddish knee breeches).  They also have brilliant white undertail coverts, which show up well when the birds are perched as well as in flight.  With broad, rounded wings that span over three-and-a-half feet, and a standing height of nearly two feet, the Harris's Hawk is one of North America's largest hawks.  

While its appearance is certainly impressive, it is the Harris's Hawk's behavior that is truly captivating.  Often found in groups of three or more individuals, Harris's Hawks are unusually social - for raptors - and even hunt cooperatively.  In fact, the hunting style of a group of Harris's Hawks can be more similar to that of a pack of wolves than to that of other raptors!  While they do hunt on the wing, like "normal" hawks, they also pursue prey on foot, chasing it through often dense and prickly desert vegetation.  Whether in the air or on the ground, the "pack" of hawks works together to surround their prey and flush it from cover, so that one member of the hunting party can capture it.  Prey includes standard hawk fare, like rodents and rabbits, as well as birds (like quail) and reptiles.  

Food is often shared... although the female we observed (the center bird) was not at all interested in sharing her meal with these two males, even though they probably all worked together to nab that little squirrel!

Harris's Hawks nest somewhat socially as well.  Although single mated pairs do raise young on their own, groups of three to seven adults commonly contribute to the raising of a brood.  In the case of a triad (which is quite possibly what we saw here), two males may both mate with one female and help raise the young cooperatively.  Juvenile birds and subadults may help in raising subsequent broods, and Harris's Hawks may successfully raise up to three broods each year. 

Groups of Harris's Hawks are a fascinating study, as these birds sort themselves into strict dominance hierarchies, feeding and breeding according to their own unwritten rules.  They also exhibit some of the most complex cooperative hunting behavior known in the bird world!  

Truly an exciting bird to see in California!