This species has been seen in west Texas, south New Mexico, south Arizona, extreme southern California and south into Mexico. However, in the continental United States, they are declining and scarce except in Texas.

This species lives in mesquite brush lands, cactus desert, and sometimes in woodlands.

This bird has chestnut shoulders, leggings and wing linings, a long black tail with white base and white tip. Juvenile are streaked below and shows some colors on shoulder, leggings, wing lining in same pattern as adult.

Preys opportunistically, often in family groups and perches conspicuously.

As I continue south on the highway, I stop at a location where I see a hawk with a cord attached to his leg and holding the bird to a short fence post. I get out my camera to take a photo of the bird, which later I determine is a Harris' Hawk, and a young boy comes running out to greet me. However, I have my photo and begin to drive away, but I turn and wave to the boy.

Once back on the road, I return to find the birding center. It is called Salineño Wildlife Preserve and is located 100 meters up from the Rio Grand. (26.514722, -99.115389)

The preserve started out long ago simply as a trailer park where the owners began to put out bird food. Later, the trailers one by one were all removed until they were all gone but bird lovers kept coming to feed and watch the birds.

Then a birding society bought the land and set up a wildlife preserve and now there are volunteers who park their travel trailers at the preserve to monitor the bird feeding.

The birds that come to feed at this preserve include the following and more: an immature eastern screech owl in a box nest, northern crested caracaras, Harris's hawks, golden-fronted woodpeckers, great kiskadee, green jays, audubon's orioles, altimira orioles, orange-crowned warblers, cardinals and others. ¹