Red tail hawks are one of the most common and widespread hawks in North America. They are large, broad-winged hawks that can be identified by their reddish-brown tails. Red tails have a varied diet consisting mainly of small mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Their hunting and feeding habits allow them to thrive in diverse habitats across the continent.
Small Mammals
One of the primary components of a red tail hawk’s diet are small mammals such as rodents. They frequently hunt voles, mice, rats, chipmunks, squirrels, and rabbits. These prey items comprise the bulk of a red-tailed hawk’s diet. Red tails utilize a hunting technique called “still-hunting”, involving scanning for prey movement from an elevated perch. When they spot potential prey, red tails swoop down quickly to grab the animal with their sharp talons. Their broad wings allow them to maneuver through dense habitats like forests and brushlands as they hunt small mammals.
Studies of red tail hawk diet have found that voles and other small rodents typically comprise the highest proportion of mammals consumed. For example, an analysis in California found that voles accounted for nearly 90% of the mammals eaten by red tails. This is likely because rodents like voles and mice tend to be abundant in the areas red tails inhabit.
Tree squirrels like chickarees and fox squirrels are also frequently taken. Red tails are well-adapted to hunting these nimble prey by watching carefully for any movement along the forest floor or in trees from a perch, then quickly diving with stealth. Rabbits like cottontails and jackrabbits may supplement the diet, especially in more open habitats. Chipmunks, woodrats, and kangaroo rats are also common prey items regionally.
The proportion of different small mammal species in a red tail’s diet can vary based on geographic location and habitat. However, the prevalence of rodents and similar-sized mammals indicates they are vital components of red tail nutrition across their range.
Examples of Small Mammals in Red Tail Diet
- Voles
- Mice
- Rats
- Chipmunks
- Squirrels
- Rabbits
- Woodrats
- Kangaroo rats
Birds
Birds are another major part of the red tail hawk’s diet. They prey on a wide variety of bird species, mainly favoring small to medium-sized birds that live or feed in open habitats. Typical avian prey includes mourning doves, starlings, blackbirds, meadowlarks, bobwhites, magpies, jays, flickers, and woodpeckers.
In one dietary analysis of red tails living in grasslands, birds comprised nearly 60% of prey items. Open country birds like larks, sparrows, and horned larks were most frequently taken. In more forested areas, woodpeckers make up a greater portion of bird prey. Larger species like pheasants, grouse, and domestic poultry may also be opportunistically hunted.
Red tails often employ a strategy called “hover-hunting” to catch birds, which involves hovering in midair while scanning below for prey activity. They also watch carefully from an elevated perch and then make a quick surprise attack. Their sharp talons and powerful grip allow them to seize and carry bird prey to devour later.
Examples of Birds in Red Tail Diet
- Mourning doves
- Starlings
- Blackbirds
- Meadowlarks
- Bobwhites
- Magpies
- Jays
- Woodpeckers
- Larks
- Sparrows
- Horned larks
- Pheasants
- Grouse
Reptiles and Amphibians
While not as commonly eaten as mammals and birds, reptiles like snakes and lizards and amphibians like frogs and toads supplement the red tail hawk diet. They most frequently prey on smaller reptile species, including smooth greensnakes, garter snakes, fence lizards, skinks, and others. But red tails may also occasionally take larger snakes like rattlesnakes and bullsnakes.
For amphibians, treefrogs, chorus frogs, toads, and other smaller frogs are typically hunted. Red tails grab reptiles and amphibians to eat using the same still-hunting strategy, watching for movement from perches and shrubs. Reptiles and amphibians likely comprise a relatively minor dietary component, but can be important sources of food in certain habitats and regions.
Examples of Reptiles and Amphibians in Red Tail Diet
- Smooth greensnakes
- Garter snakes
- Rattlesnakes
- Bullsnakes
- Fence lizards
- Skinks
- Treefrogs
- Chorus frogs
- Toads
Other Prey
While mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians make up the bulk of their diet, red tails exhibit adaptability and will eat a wide range of other prey. They may opportunistically hunt fish, crabs, crayfish, scorpions, and insects. Red tails have even been recorded preying on tarantulas, turtles, weasels, bats, and carrion. This variety of prey attests to their versatility as hunters.
Habitat and Hunting
Red tail hawks thrive in many different habitats and settings across North America. They can live in deserts, grasslands, shrublands, forests, cities, and more. This habitat adaptability is aided by their ability to hunt many types of prey. In open country, they feast more on ground squirrels, rabbits, and birds. In forests they eat more arboreal mammals and woodpeckers. Near water they will grab frogs, fish and crustaceans. Red tails make use of diverse hunting perches from trees to utility poles and fences.
Dietary Shifts
The diet of red tails can shift throughout the year as prey availability changes. Mammals like rodents and rabbits may be more common in colder months. Warm seasons bring an abundance of reptiles, amphibians and newly fledged birds. Red tails are less active hunters in winter, and may rely more on carrion or easily caught prey. Their adaptations as generalist hunters allow red tails to make the most of seasonal fluctuations in food sources.
Role as Top Predators
The wide diet breadth of red tail hawks allows them to play an important ecological role as mesopredators in many habitats. They help regulate prey populations below them in the food chain like rodents, snakes and insects. This can have benefits like reducing agricultural pest species. Their position as top predators provides an important linkage in balancing ecosystem dynamics across North America.
Conclusion
In summary, red tail hawks are formidable generalist predators that consume a wide variety of prey. Small mammals including rodents comprise the greatest proportion of their diet. Birds are also vitally important, especially smaller passerines and woodpeckers. Reptiles, amphibians and other prey supplement their nutrition. Red tails are able to thrive in diverse ecosystems because of their versatile hunting skills and broad palate. Their unique dietary preferences and habits allow red tail hawks to be one of the most successful raptor species on the continent.
