This is bird note.

While most raptors are solitary birds,

Harris's hawks of the southwestern United States live and hunt in groups of two to six.

The hunt begins in the wee hours of the morning,

with members of a group gathering on power poles, trees, or giant

cacti. Then the hawks fly from one high perch to the next, in search of prey. Some fly ahead, the rest trailing behind.

When the group spots a prey animal, the hawks swoop in from various directions

to catch the confused creature with their sickle-shaped talons.

If they miss and their prey takes cover, some of the birds try to flush it out,

while others lie in ambush.

Banding together may allow the hawks to go after bigger prey, such as rabbits and hairs. An adult jackrabbit can weigh two to three times more than a hawk and can actually injure or kill a bird in its defense.

A pack approach is safer and more likely to be successful.

Another possible reason they cooperate is that hunting in habitats with shrubs and other undergrowth,

where prey can hide, is easier with teamwork. However they might benefit, Harris's Hawks' Pack strategy sets

them apart.

For Bird Note, I'm Michael Stein.

Support for Bird Note is provided by Jim and Beerta Faulkner from Seattle, Washington

and generous listeners around the world.