The Harris’s hawk, also known as the bay-winged hawk or dusky hawk, is a medium-sized bird of prey that is found in the southwestern United States and parts of Central and South America. But why is this particular hawk named after someone called Harris? In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the history and origins behind the Harris’s hawk’s name.
The Naming of the Harris’s Hawk
The Harris’s hawk was named after the American ornithologist Edward Harris, who first collected and classified specimens of the bird in the 1830s. Harris was an avid naturalist and collector who participated in numerous expeditions across the American Southwest during the early and mid-19th century. On one such expedition in 1836, Harris collected the first known specimens of the hawk that now bears his name near the junction of the Gila and Colorado rivers in present-day Arizona.
At the time, most hawks in North America had not yet been formally described and cataloged by scientists. As one of the first trained naturalists to extensively explore the region, Harris documented and preserved many unknown bird species, including the Harris’s hawk. He sent his specimens and descriptive notes back east to pioneering American ornithologist John James Audubon, who was working on his seminal publication The Birds of America.
Audubon formally described the Harris’s hawk for the first time in the 1840s, bestowing Harris’s name upon it in honor of the hawk’s discoverer. He dubbed it Falco harrisii, capitalizing on Harris’ contribution to American ornithology by making him the namesake of this unique raptor.
Origin and History of the Name “Harris”
The name Harris has a long history and origins dating back centuries before the bird’s namesake. It is an English and Welsh surname originating in medieval times that has several potential derivations.
One theory is that Harris evolved from the ancient personal name Harry, which is a diminutive of the Germanic name Henry that was introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century. Harry later morphed into Harris over time.
Another possibility is that Harris is a patronymic surname derived from the first name Harry. This means it would have originally been “Harry’s son” and denoted a male descendant of someone named Harry.
Harris may also come from the Old English word hærfest, meaning “autumn.” As an occupational name, it could have signified someone involved in autumn activities like harvesting.
Finally, Harris might derive from the Old English words hær meaning “hairy” and hrycg meaning “ridge” or “back.” Together, these words may have referred to someone who lived near a ridge covered in hair-like vegetation.
So while the hawk got its name from 19th century naturalist Edward Harris, the Harris surname itself has a long and storied origin dating back to medieval England.
Edward Harris and His Contributions to Ornithology
Edward Harris was born in Moorestown, New Jersey in 1799. He developed a deep passion for natural history and scientific exploration from an early age.
In 1819, 20-year-old Harris embarked on an extended collecting expedition through the American Midwest, documenting the flora and fauna he encountered. This kicked off a lifetime of adventuring across the continent; throughout the 1820s and 1830s, Harris traversed places like the Rocky Mountains, the Southwest, and the Pacific Coast.
On these journeys, Harris assembled vast natural history collections that allowed him to discover and describe many new species previously unknown to Anglo-American science. Besides the Harris’s hawk, he is credited with identifying other birds like the ruby-crowned kinglet, Townsend’s warbler, and wrentit.
By collecting animal and bird specimens for leading naturalists like Audubon to study, Harris played a key role in unlocking theFrontier biodiversity and landscapes of the American West. Audubon named at least three birds after him to acknowledge his contributions.
But why did Audubon choose to name the Harris’s hawk after its discoverer? A few key reasons help explain this decision:
- Harris collected the very first specimens of the hawk near the Gila River – before then, this raptor was unknown to science
- He provided detailed field notes and observations along with his specimens
- His extensive explorations of the Southwest gave him access to birds like the Harris’s hawk found only in that region
- Audubon wanted to honor his friend and colleague by linking Harris’s name to a distinctive new raptor
In essence, by naming the species after Harris himself, Audubon gave proper scientific credit to the man whose field explorations first introduced this hawk to the world.
Physical Characteristics of the Harris’s Hawk
The Harris’s hawk is a medium-sized raptor measuring between 17-24 inches in length and weighing approximately 2 pounds. It has several distinctive physical traits that help identify it in the wild:
- Coloring – Dark brown upper body, reddish-brown shoulders and wing linings, white underside with dark streaking
- Head – Dark brown crown and nape interspersed with white markings
- Wings – Broad, rounded wings colored dark brown above and rusty-red below
- Tail – Dark brown with white band near tip
- Legs – Yellow legs and feet with long talons
- Beak – Short hooked bill that is dark gray/black
- Eyes – Piercing yellow irises
The Harris’s hawk’s unique mix of colors and patterns distinguishes it from most other North American hawks. Its broad wings – wider than they are long – also give it superb maneuverability and flight control compared to similar raptors.
Behaviors and Hunting Adaptations
In addition to its distinctive appearance, the Harris’s hawk exhibits some remarkable behavioral adaptations that allow it to thrive in its desert and scrubland environments:
- Social hunters – Harris’s hawks cooperatively hunt in family groups of 2-6 birds; this pack hunting gives them an advantage catching prey
- Versatile diet – They eat a wide variety of small mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians
- Sneak attacks – Harris’s hawks stealthily approach through scrub brush before pouncing on unsuspecting prey on the ground
- Aerial maneuvers – Their broad wings allow impressive aerial agility to chase and seize prey midair
- Intelligence – They are considered one of the most intelligent hawks, exhibiting strategy, play, and ability to work cooperatively
This combination of social, dietary, and aerial adaptations gives the Harris’s hawk great flexibility and hunting success within its desert ecosystem. Their ingenuity and intelligence sets them apart from many solitary hawks that rely on brute force alone.
Habitat and Range
Harris’s hawks occupy a broad swath of territory across the Americas:
- They are year-round residents of the arid scrub and desert landscapes across the Southwestern U.S. and Northern Mexico.
- During summer months, their range expands as far north as Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
- Harris’s hawks also occur in Central America and range across much of South America east of the Andes Mountains.
- They are found in diverse arid and semi-arid ecosystems – desert scrub, chaparral, savanna, shrublands, woodlands, grasslands.
- Within these environments, Harris’s hawks require some trees or tall shrubs for nesting and roosting sites.
The species occurs only sporadically in wetter or forested areas. By occupying diverse hot, dry landscapes across the Americas, the Harris’s hawk has carved out a broad geographic niche unlike many other hawks.
Conservation Status
Harris’s hawks have a relatively stable population worldwide and are considered common within their expansive habitat range. The species has been evaluated at the lowest conservation concern by the IUCN Red List with a designation of “Least Concern.”
However, localized threats and declines have been noted in certain areas, including:
- Habitat loss from development and agriculture in parts of the U.S. Southwest
- Mortality from power lines, roadways, and wind turbines
- Poisoning from pesticides and other chemicals
- Climate change and drought drying out habitats
- Limited genetic diversity in some isolated populations
Ongoing conservation programs aim to monitor Harris’s hawk populations, protect crucial habitat, and reduce threats like poisoning and collisions. Maintaining the health of this species across its expansive Western Hemisphere range remains an important focus going forward.
Significance as a Cultural Icon
The Harris’s hawk holds a special significance as a cultural figure and icon, especially across the desert landscapes it calls home:
- They are used in ancient Native American practices like falconry to hunt small game
- Many Southwestern native tribes incorporate hawks into their mythology, symbols and art
- Harris’s hawks are increasingly popular in modern falconry due to being easy to train and their social nature
- Their distinctive shape is used as a logo and identifier for businesses, sports teams, and more
- They are a subject of interest and pride as a unique resident of the Southwest U.S. and northern Mexico
By serving as a cultural ambassador of the Southwest, the Harris’s hawk ignites people’s passion and interest in this region’s desert landscapes and wildlife.
Why the Name Has Stuck for Almost 200 Years
Since Audubon first attached Harris’s name to the hawk in the 1800s, the common and scientific name has stuck through nearly two centuries of taxonomy revisions, discoveries, and shifting conventions. But why has the Harris’s hawk retained its eponymous name when many other birds have been renamed over time?
There are a few primary reasons:
- Established precedent – Audubon’s original designation from the 1840s set the standard that has been followed by scientists ever since
- Recognition of discovery – Using Harris’s name acknowledges his role in the species’ discovery and introduction to the scientific community
- Lack of confusion – The name has not caused excessive confusion by being applied to multiple species
- Enduring legacy – Harris made such extensive contributions to American ornithology that his name carries weight even today
- No major changes – The species has not undergone significant taxonomic shifts that required a name change
In essence, the Harris’s hawk’s name has held up over time because it was established early by a renowned naturalist, continues to honor an important historical figure, and has not created any classification or identification issues that needed correction.
Similar Species and Key Differences
The Harris’s hawk exhibits some similarity to other medium-sized, broad-winged raptors within its range. However, several key differences help distinguish it from these lookalike species:
Red-Tailed Hawk
- Red-tails have more variation in color morphs but generally show a paler, lightly streaked underside
- Their tail is russet-red above while the Harris’s hawk tail has a white band at the tip
- Red-tailed hawks have a high-pitched whistling scream; Harris’s hawks make a higher “klee-uk klee-uk” call
Red-Shouldered Hawk
- As the name suggests, red-shouldered hawks have rich reddish shoulders and wing linings
- They have streaked undersides like the Harris’s but with a white crescent on the throat
- Red-shouldered hawks create a piercing, whistled “kee-ah” cry
Swainson’s Hawk
- Swainson’s are lighter in color without the dark hood seen on the Harris’s hawk
- They have light wing linings in contrast to the reddish hue of the Harris’s
- Swainson’s hawks migrate annually, while Harris’s hawks are year-round residents
Paying attention to details like vocalizations, wing and tail patterns, geographic range, and flight silhouette allows accurate identification of the Harris’s hawk from other similar raptors.
Significance of the Naming Process
The naming process followed in the 1840s that led to Harris’s hawk highlights the important role early naturalists played in discovering and classifying bird species:
- They conducted explorations of remote areas to obtain specimens unknown to science
- Detailed notes and drawings were made to carefully document each new species
- Specimens were collected and preserved for evaluation by experts back east
- Findings were circulated through books, scientific papers, and museum collections
- Esteemed ornithologists like Audubon then conducted the formal naming and describing process
- They often honored the original collectors by naming species after them
Following this naming protocol allowed early naturalists to systematically introduce new birds like the Harris’s hawk into the annals of scientific understanding, leaving a legacy that lives on in the species’ names today.
Conclusion
The Harris’s hawk stands as a living legacy honoring one of the 19th century’s great American naturalists and his role in illuminating the country’s frontier landscapes. By lending his name to this distinctive desert raptor, Audubon memorialized both the man and the hawk to history.
Over 175 years later, the reasons behind the species’ name remind us of the adventurous spirit of early naturalists who risked life and limb seeking out new animals amidst unmapped habitats. The enduring name also signifies the Harris’s hawk’s lasting stature as a cultural icon of the American Southwest.
So the next time you encounter a Harris’s hawk patrolling the desert, look beyond its piercing yellow eyes to remember the rich human history memorialized in its evocative name.