Harris hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus). The Harris hawk is a medium-large bird of prey (raptor) native to the USA and parts of South America. It has previously been known as the bay-winged hawk, dusky hawk and wolf hawk. They are a social bird and often hunt as a team. This social nature, along with their relative ease with humans, has made them a popular bird for falconers. They are used in educational programmes and as a deterrent to other birds, such as pigeons, in urban areas or airports, discouraging them from roosting and nesting on buildings or surrounding areas.