What do Red-tailed Hawks like to eat?

Red-tailed hawks are one of the most common and widespread hawks in North America. They are large, broad-winged birds of prey that can be found soaring over open fields, grasslands, and woodlands across much of the continent. But what do these powerful raptors like to eat? Let’s take a closer look at the diet and hunting habits of red-tailed hawks.

Small Mammals

One of the primary components of the red-tailed hawk diet is small mammals. Red-tails are accomplished hunters and can dispatch prey animals ranging from mice and voles up to rabbits, ground squirrels, and muskrats. When hunting, red-tailed hawks will survey an area from a high perch before swooping down with incredible speed to grab unsuspecting prey with their sharp talons. Small mammals make up the bulk of the red-tail’s diet, particularly in the summer months when other food sources may be more scarce.

Common Small Mammal Prey

• Mice
• Voles
• Chipmunks
• Ground squirrels
• Pocket gophers
• Woodrats
• Kangaroo rats
• Weasels
• Rabbits
• Muskrats

Being opportunistic hunters, red-tails will target whichever small mammal species are most abundant in their local habitat. In grasslands and fields, they may feed heavily on voles, ground squirrels, and pocket gophers. In drier shrublands, kangaroo rats and woodrats often make up more of the hawk’s diet. And in wetlands, muskrats are a common prey item.

Birds

Though small mammals make up a large part of their diet, red-tailed hawks are also accomplished bird hunters. They prey on a wide variety of bird species, including game birds like quail and grouse as well as songbirds, woodpeckers, pigeons, and waterfowl. Some of the most common avian prey includes mourning doves, rock pigeons, American robins, and meadowlarks. Larger red-tails have even been known to attack adult ring-necked pheasants, wild turkeys, and young sandhill cranes.

Common Bird Prey

• Mourning doves
• Rock pigeons
• American robins
• Meadowlarks
• Blackbirds
• Starlings
• Swallows
• Woodpeckers
• Quail
• Grouse
• Pheasants
• Waterfowl

Birds make up a substantial part of the red-tailed hawk’s diet, especially in winter when bird concentrations are higher. The hawk’s powerful talons allow it to clamp down with deadly force on bird prey in mid-air.

Reptiles and Amphibians

Though not as common as mammals and birds, reptiles and amphibians also occasionally make up part of the red-tailed hawk’s varied diet. Snakes are most frequently eaten, but lizards, turtles, frogs, salamanders, and toads may also be preyed upon if the opportunity arises. Juvenile hawks seem more likely to hunt herpetofauna than adult red-tails.

Reptiles and Amphibians Hunted

• Garter snakes
• Racer snakes
• Gopher snakes
• Lizards
• Turtles
• Frogs
• Toads
• Salamanders

Though reptiles and amphibians are not a primary food source, red-tails will opportunistically grab them when available. Snakes are most commonly eaten since they are abundant prey in many of the open habitats favored by red-tailed hawks.

Insects

Red-tailed hawks are not above supplementing their diet with insects on occasion. Large grasshoppers, cicadas, beetles, and caterpillars are all eaten at times. This is most frequent during summer when insect numbers are at their peak. Young red-tailed hawks, with their less refined hunting skills, are more likely to pursue insects than adult birds.

Insects Hunted

• Grasshoppers
• Crickets
• Cicadas
• Beetles
• Caterpillars

Though insects provide only a minimal part of their overall diet, red-tailed hawks seem to enjoy catching them on occasion as a dietary supplement. The large grasshopper and cicada broods that emerge in midsummer offer an abundant, if temporary, food source.

Carrion

When available, carrion makes up a regular part of the red-tailed hawk diet. Red-tails will readily scavenge for fresh carcasses of large birds, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. Common road kill like opossums, skunks, and squirrels are frequently eaten. At landfills, dumps, and compost piles, red-tails will opportunistically dine on discarded food scraps as well.

Carrion provides an important food source, especially in winter when live prey may be more scarce. Though they prefer to hunt live prey when possible, red-tailed hawks have adapted to take advantage of carrion when needed to survive in lean times.

Differences Between Juveniles and Adults

The diet of red-tailed hawks can vary somewhat between younger and older birds. Juveniles tend to eat more insects, amphibians, reptiles, and carrion until they become more accomplished hunters. Adults focus more consistently on live mammalian and avian prey.

The differences reflect the greater hunting experience and capabilities of mature red-tails compared to newly independent juveniles.

Variation Across Range

The diet of red-tailed hawks also varies somewhat across their expansive range in North America. Different habitat types support different types of prey species.

The wide-ranging red-tailed hawk has adapted to hunt successfully on the most abundant prey wherever it is found across North America.

Hunting Techniques

Red-tailed hawks employ a variety of hunting techniques tailored to capturing different types of prey.

Still-Hunting

When still-hunting, a red-tail will perch on an elevated vantage point like a tree branch or telephone pole. It scans the terrain below for potential prey. Once spotted, the hawk silently drops down to grab unsuspecting prey in its talons.

Cruising Flight

Red-tails also hunt by flying low over open habitats, using their sharp vision to spot prey while on the wing. The cruising hawk may opportunistically stoop down to grab exposed prey on the ground below.

Hovering

Hawks will sometimes briefly hover in mid-air while hunting, allowing them to zero in on prey movement in grassy cover. The hovering hawk then drops straight down onto concealed prey.

Cooperative Hunting

Mated pairs may work together, with one hawk flushing prey towards its partner. The red-tails cooperate to more effectively hunt prey like rabbits, ground-nesting birds, and reptiles.

These varied techniques allow red-tailed hawks to successfully hunt across many different environments and situations.

Ideal Habitat

Red-tailed hawks thrive best in open country habitats that support abundant small mammal and bird populations. Ideal habitat types include:

• Grasslands
• Pastures
• Hayfields
• Meadows
• Marshes
• Scrublands
• Deserts
• Farmland
• Woodland edges

Access to elevated perches for hunting surveys, and open ground for spotting prey, help red-tails be highly effective hunters across these varied habitats.

Behavioral Adaptations for Hunting

Red-tailed hawks have many physical and behavioral adaptations that make them effective hunters.

• Sharp vision capable of spotting prey from 100 yards away
• Acute hearing able to detect prey rustling in grass
• Powerful, grasping talons to kill prey
• Broad wings allowing skilled flight maneuvers and hovering
• Ability to digest bones, fur, and feathers of prey

These adaptations allow red-tailed hawks to thrive as predators across diverse habitats and changing prey populations.

Conclusion

Red-tailed hawks are prolific, opportunistic, and adaptable predators. Small mammals like mice, voles, and ground squirrels make up much of their diet. But these hawks also skillfully hunt birds and supplement with reptiles, amphibians, insects, and carrion. Hunting techniques like patient still-hunting and rapid stooping allow red-tails to exploit varied prey in diverse habitats. The red-tailed hawk’s dietary flexibility provides key to its success across much of North America.