My experience with kiara harris nozzle

This is the first raptor that I held and first with whom I worked a lot.
Kiara was perfect for my apprenticeship to falconry.
Not subject with character but an angel's heart.
She was perfect for me.
I explain the characteristics of the harris nozzle decorated with my photos :)

Description identification

Harris's buzzards are slenderer than other Buteo buzzards. They have a longer and narrower tail. In adults, the plumage is almost entirely dark brown or chocolate brown, except for the shoulders, the wing covers, the undersides of the wings and the thighs which have a chestnut or hazelnut hue. The rump, the base of the tail and its terminal part are white. The central part of the rectrices is blackish. The wax, the base of the bill and the legs are yellow. The females are considerably larger than the males but their livery is identical to that of their partner. Juveniles are quite similar to their parents, but all their plumage is less brightly colored. They have a white belly with chocolate brown streaks. The feathers of the tarsi are pale with reddish bars. The wings and tail are also barred.
Seen from below in flight, Harris's buzzards are quite similar to immature swamps in Milan. However, their lower covers are more red, the tail is less white at the base and the beak appears less hooked.

Habitat

In the United States, where its range is now very limited, its habitat types are few. On the other hand, further south, in the tropical or subtropical part of its territory, it occupies a wide variety of habitats. In Arizona, the Harris's Hawk frequents high-altitude deserts dominated by Saguaro cacti, arid mesquite and palo verde, wooded areas with undergrowth of sage, and flooded willows and poplars. in the valley of the Colorado River. In Texas, it shows a certain preference for mesquite stands whose understory is formed by Opuntia cacti. It is also found in bushy deserts with creosotiers and yuccas cacti. Locally, it occupies forests consisting of oaks and junipers. In recent years, Harris's Hawk has moved closer to urban areas. It is found at altitudes ranging from 400 to 1000 meters. In areas where it competes with Swainson's Hawk, it tends to nest in areas with higher tree densities and more open soil.

Behavior character traits

The Harris's Hawk has a very complex social behavior, especially during the breeding season. In arid areas where nest success is less important because of resource constraints, she usually opts for single monogamy, with only one partner. On the other hand, in places with a high quality of habitat, she usually practices polyandry and she favors two males. In this case, the management of the brood is ensured by a strongly hierarchical group that includes from 3 to 7 individuals. The minimal structure always includes 3 birds, a dominant female, an alpha mating male and a beta male whose role is to compensate for any deficiencies in the primary parent. The collective is completed by two, three or possibly four gamma assistants. They are subadults or juveniles of indeterminate sex. They have three main tasks: find food, defend the territory and protect the nest. The monogamous structure is mainly present in Texas, where the number of males is almost equal to that of females. The polyandric structure is common in Arizona where the number of males is significantly higher than that of females.

In groups that practice collective breeding, members hunt together, allowing them to report larger prey. The strategy is for 2 individuals to practice circular flights and land on a perch to scare the prey and force out of hiding. Taking advantage of this role of reel, another nozzle captures the animal. She conceals him immediately under his wing, like a shield to shield him from the sight of his accomplices. This practice is also common in Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperi).

Diet and diet

Harris's buzzards are very opportunistic in their way of hunting and the menu varies considerably depending on the kinds of prey that are available. Add to that, ornithologists do not all agree on the composition of the scheme. According to Snyder (1976), mammals make up 53% of the diet, birds about 40%, small vertebrates 6% and invertebrates only 1%. Later studies find a higher proportion of insects (beetles, ants and grasshoppers). The most commonly caught mammals are cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus audubonii) which account for 22% of the total. Gambel quail (Callipepla gambelii) makes up about 9% of the total diet. Spiny lizards (Sceloporus magister) are also important prey. Ground squirrels, antelope squirrels, deer-rats are important additions. During the winter, Harris's buzzards hunt collectively and capture larger prey such as California hares (Leporus californicus).

Nesting reproduction

Harris's buzzards build their nest in cactuses or trees at an average height of 5 meters above the ground. In urban areas, the latter can be placed in poplars, charms, palms or electrical transformers. The nest is a platform composed of branches, grasses, and twigs. It is often garnished with moss, herbs and roots. The female lays between 2 and 4 eggs at the same time. It can reproduce during all the months of the year during which it deposits between 2 and 3 eggs. The incubation period lasts about 35 days and the males are happy to brood. Young birds leave the nest approximately 40 days after hatching, but remain near the place of birth for 2 or 3 months. According to Whaley, productivity is relatively higher for nests that practice cooperative breeding. The average fledglings are estimated at 2.26. The main cause of non-hatching is egg infertility, nest abandonment and predator intervention. The main cause of nestling mortality is due to human intervention, diseases and accidents.

Distribution

The Harris Hawk is endemic to the extreme south of the United States, Central America and South America (except the Andes and the Amazon Rainforest). Its range extends from northern California Baja, southern Arizona and New Mexico, from central Texas to Chile and north to central America through Central America (where it is absent from the peninsula of Yucatan). In this vast geographical area, there are three subspecies: Parabuteo unicinctus harrisi (from Texas to southern Ecuador) - P.u. unicinctus, the type race (rest of South America) - P.u. superior (Arizona, Baja California, Sonora and Sinaloa).

A last little picture with my 3 year old son and Kiara