HARRIS HAWK, GUARDING THE PRIZE

The Harris's Hawk is one cool customer—a tough, smart raptor that rules the deserts of the Southwest with its sleek dark feathers, those rich chestnut patches on the shoulders and thighs, and bright yellow legs that really pop. What sets it apart from most hawks is how social it is; these birds often team up in family groups to hunt, working together like a pack of wolves in the sky to flush out and take down prey. In this painting, "Harris Hawk, Guarding the Prize," you can feel that intense focus and raw power as the hawk stands watch over its hard-won catch, a true master of the wild. Pr...