I was on my way up to Chivay in the Peruvian highland region towards the world’s deepest canyon – the Colca Canyon -- when I spotted a red-backed hawk on the top of a snack shop in a roadside stop. I had just taken out my camera to take a photo of the hawk when suddeny I saw a local guy was throwing a chicken head to the roof. I was very fortunate to capture the great movements.

The Variable Hawk (Red-backed Hawk) is well-named, exhibiting perhaps the greatest variety of plumage patterns of any species of hawk. It occurs throughout the Andes and in the temperate regions of southern South America.
These Hawks occupy open habitats at all elevations, where they prey on mammals and other small animals spotted from the air. They build large stick nests on any elevated structure available, and sometimes breed cooperatively.