This is an interesting question that requires looking at the natural behaviors and abilities of both red foxes and hawks. Red foxes are medium-sized omnivorous mammals that hunt small prey like rabbits, rodents, birds, frogs and even fish. Hawks are birds of prey that come in many sizes and primarily feed on rodents, snakes, lizards and other small animals. The size and hunting abilities of each would factor into whether a red fox could successfully hunt or scavenge a hawk.
Quick Facts on Red Foxes
- Red foxes are part of the Canidae family that includes dogs, wolves, coyotes, and jackals.
- They have a reddish-brown coat, black legs, and a bushy tail with a white tip.
- Red foxes measure 32 to 50 inches from head to tail and weigh 8 to 15 pounds on average.
- They are found throughout most of North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa.
- Red foxes are omnivores that hunt small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, eggs, fruit, berries, insects, worms, and garbage.
- They hunt primarily at night and will cache extra food for later.
- Red foxes are fast runners that can reach speeds of up to 30 mph.
Quick Facts on Hawks
- Hawks are medium to large-sized birds of prey in the Accipitridae family.
- There are over 60 species of hawks in North America.
- Hawks vary in size from the small Sharp-shinned Hawk (10-14 inches long) to the large Ferruginous Hawk (25-27 inches long).
- Most hawks have broad, rounded wings and sharp talons used for catching prey.
- Hawks feed primarily on small mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
- Some of the more common hawk species include the Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Cooper’s Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk.
- Most hawks hunt during daylight hours.
Size and Hunting Advantages
The size differences between an average red fox and hawk species means the outcome of a predator-prey interaction would depend a lot on the hawk species.
Smaller hawk species like the Sharp-shinned Hawk and Cooper’s Hawk would potentially fall within the size range that a red fox could prey upon. These accipiters measure 10 to 18 inches in length and weigh between 4 to 24 ounces. A red fox outweighs even the largest examples of these hawks by a factor of two or three. The fox would potentially have the size and strength advantage in a physical confrontation.
On the other hand, most medium to larger hawk species like the Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Goshawk and Ferruginous Hawk would pose more risk in turn trying to prey upon a red fox. These hawks range from 18 to 27 inches long and weigh 1.1 to 4.5 pounds. They could more readily overpower and kill a fox kit but would have a much harder time against an adult red fox.
Weapons and Hunting Styles
The hunting adaptations and strategies of red foxes and hawks also factor into the likelihood of a predation event in either direction.
Red foxes rely on their speed, agility, senses, and front claws when hunting. They use their excellent hearing to locate small prey animals in vegetation or underground, then pounce and kill quickly with their claws and teeth. Though not their primary hunting method, red foxes are capable of jumping high to catch birds and can even snatch a bird mid-flight in the right circumstances.
In contrast, hawks rely on spotting prey from high perches, stealth, and speed in rapid dives or short flights. Their talons and curved beaks are adapted for swiftly killing prey on impact. Different hawk species use varied hunting techniques – some cruise low in open areas, others stealthily weave through dense woods, and falcons launch into fast dives from very high.
Given their physical differences, it would likely be easier for a red fox to catch a hawk on the ground rather than for a hawk to snatch a healthy adult fox. But hungry or curious red foxes may hang around hawk nests when the parent birds are away and snatch up an egg or vulnerable nestling.
Documented Interactions
There are few scientific reports documenting predation events between red foxes and hawks. Most observations involve red foxes opportunistically scavenging dead hawks or raiding unattended ground nests rather than directly preying on adult birds. Some anecdotal reports indicate:
- Red foxes eat ground-nesting hawk eggs during the spring breeding season.
- They will scavenge injured, sick or starving hawks if readily available.
- Small hawks can fall prey to red foxes when impaired (e.g. roadkill).
- There are rare cases of red foxes catching healthy sharptails and kestrels.
Overall, predation is more likely to occur from hawks to foxes where their territories overlap. The large female Northern Goshawk reportedly preys on red fox kits and has even attacked adult foxes. Most hawk species pose little danger to full-grown red foxes and vice versa.
Energetic Costs Versus Benefits of Hunting Hawks
Catching prey takes energy and the cost-benefit ratio has to be favorable for a predator to regularly hunt difficult or dangerous prey. This involves factors like:
- The size and caloric value of the potential prey
- Energy spent searching for, ambushing, killing and consuming it
- Risk of injury in the process
Adult hawks represent fast, formidable targets for a predator like the red fox. Several factors likely make hawks occasional prey rather than a primary target:
- Adult hawks may fight back and injure or kill a fox.
- Plucking feathers and dismembering an avian skeleton takes effort and time.
- The amount of meat yield is relatively small.
- Small mammals, birds, eggs and fruit are easier for red foxes to catch and provide adequate nutrition.
Scavenging an already dead or dying hawk requires less energy expenditure and risk. This makes carrion a more viable food source than active hunting of hawks for red foxes. It provides a meal at little cost except competing with other scavengers.
Conclusion
In summary, red foxes are capable of preying on smaller hawk species and nestlings when the opportunity arises due to their larger size and adaptable hunting skills. However, they are unlikely to actively hunt most adult hawks due to the energy costs and risks relative to hunting easier prey. Larger hawks can more readily prey on red foxes, particularly young kits. Overall, red foxes pose little predatory threat to healthy hawk populations and hawks do not make up a significant portion of the red fox’s wild diet. Scavenging dead or dying hawks likely represents their most common natural interactions.
