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The Eating Habits of the Red-tailed Hawk

The red-tailed hawk is found throughout North America and Western Europe. It is a bird of prey that easily acclimates to most regions. These birds are found in the desert, in forests, in grassy areas and in areas populated by people. The red-tailed hawk is larger then most of its counterparts with an average weight between two and three pounds. Red-tailed hawks are carnivores, and their diets mostly consist of rodents and other small animals.

Small mammals
- Red-tailed hawks can eat animals as big as jackrabbits.
  
  Red-tailed hawks eat primarily small mammals. Depending on their availability, creatures such as chipmunks, bats, squirrels, woodchucks, mice, shrews and voles are diet staples. While hawks typically prefer animals that are raccoon-sized or smaller, they will eat mammals that weigh more than they do, particularly rabbits and hares. They have also been known to swoop small dogs off of unsuspecting owners' porches and yards. Mammals make up approximately 85% of the red-tailed hawk's diet.
Birds
- Red-tailed hawks love skies filled with birds.
  
  Red-tailed hawks eat other birds indiscriminately. The hawks hunt birds from an elevated position where they can keep an eye on what's around them. They are often seen using fence posts or trees as perches. Once they have their prey in sight, they swoop down from their perch and catch the birds while they are flying. Due to their strength and size, they are able to prey on small and medium sized birds. By mid-adulthood, most red-tailed hawks have learned how to catch birds as they dive through the sky.
Other animals
- A spider makes a tasty snack for red-tailed hawks.
  
  Besides small mammals and birds, red-tailed hawks feed on other animals including snakes, ducks, geese, fish, crustaceans and all types of insects. On many occasions, red-tailed hawks capture their prey as they fly low to the ground and then use their talons snatch them up. To catch animals in the water, they swoop down and plunge briefly into the water, going feet first and grasping the creatures with their talons.
Carcasses
- Creatures killed on our roads make convenient prey for red-tailed hawks.
  
  Red-tailed hawks have been known to eat the carcasses of dead animals and even road kill. This happens most often when other food sources are scarce. They will also steal prey that other animals have caught; this is called pirating.
Animals from Fires
- Forest fires cause animals to flee for safety.
  
  You will often see red-tailed hawks flying around the perimeter of a forest fire. They wait until the fire causes animals to scurry out in search of safety, then swoop down and snatch them up.

Animals & Science