What does the Red-tailed Hawk eat?

The Red-tailed Hawk's diet shapes where and when you'll find it. Understanding what it eats helps you predict where to look.

Diet overview

Carnivore, primarily preying on small mammals (rodents, rabbits), birds, and reptiles.

How it forages

Primarily a sit-and-wait predator, perching on high vantage points to scan for prey. Also hunts by soaring or kiting over open fields. Prey is typically caught on the ground. Diet consists mainly of small mammals (voles, mice, ground squirrels, rabbits), but also includes birds (pheasants, quail, starlings), snakes, lizards, and occasionally insects or carrion.

When it feeds

Diurnal, active during daylight hours.

Explore the Red-tailed Hawk