Jon Neviaser with his male Ornate Hawk Eagle. Jon is probably the most experienced falconer with Ornate Hawk Eagles in North America.
On this particular occasion we were enjoying a bit of “drive by hawking” using his Isuzu 4x4. We were hawking the suburbs and looking for cottontails, grey squirrels or crows.
In that respect the male Ornate is very much in the same role as a goshawk, fast off the fist, very manoeuvrable and a bold hunter. The only difference in some peoples eyes is that the Ornate is wearing a flashier set of feathers.

The female Ornate Hawk Eagle is a different ball game as you will see later in this chapter.