{"id":10112,"date":"2021-12-11T10:17:23","date_gmt":"2021-12-11T10:17:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?p=10112"},"modified":"2021-12-12T12:30:16","modified_gmt":"2021-12-12T12:30:16","slug":"what-does-a-hawk-eat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/what-does-a-hawk-eat\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does A Hawk Eat?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With their broad wingspan and impressive soaring abilities<\/a>, hawks are truly fascinating birds of prey. But what types of animal do they prey on, exactly? What does a hawk eat, what is its favorite food, and what are some of the largest animals it will prey on? Keep reading! In this article, we\u2019ll answer all of these questions and more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Foods Do Hawks Eat?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Hawks eat many different kinds of food. They are opportunistic carnivores, which means they will eat whatever is available and are not very picky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, the foods that are most available can vary from region to region, and hawks may have slightly different food preferences depending on their species. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some common hawk food groups include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Small mammals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Animals such as mice, rats, rabbits, squirrels, and bats make up some of the most popular foods among hawks. These animals are generally widespread and plentiful, so many different species of hawk depend on them as a primary food source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reptiles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hawks living in desert regions frequently eat lizards, snakes, and other small reptiles. Most reptiles are small and don\u2019t provide a lot of meat, but again, hawks tend to take whatever they can get when they are hungry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amphibians<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Frogs, toads, and salamanders make tasty treats for hawks living in wooded wetland regions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Small birds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many hawks eat small and medium sized birds such as jays, cuckoos, and finches. Hawks living in urban areas may pick off these birds at bird feeders, while in the wild they frequently capture them in midair and snag them from the ground or tree branches where they\u2019re perched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insects<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Though most hawks prefer larger, meatier prey, some depend on insects to make up the majority of their diet. Nearly all hawks will turn to eating insects to supplement their diet or if there is no better food to be found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Hawk\u2019s Favorite Food?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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As noted above, hawks eat many different kinds of food. The foods they prefer most depend largely on their species and what\u2019s available in their region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, Cooper\u2019s hawks generally prefer birds<\/strong>\u2013usually songbirds, though they have a reputation for going after chickens as well. According to Audubon<\/a>, they will also eat small mammals, reptiles, and insects, but the Cooper\u2019s hawk\u2019s favorite food is definitely birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, northern goshawks prefer small to medium sized mammals <\/strong>such as squirrels and rabbits. They will also eat other animals, but the majority of their diet is made up of mammals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Red-tailed hawks prefer mice and rats <\/strong>but will eat many other types of mammals as well. They eat birds and other animals far more rarely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The broad-winged hawk, contrary to most other hawks, feeds primarily on insects.<\/strong> They will also eat frogs, lizards, mice, and other small animals to supplement their insect diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, nearly all hawks are opportunistic feeders, and they rarely will pass up anything that they consider an easy meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do Hawks Eat Cats?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most hawks prefer small prey they can pick up and carry<\/a>, but they have been known to attack and kill larger animals on the ground.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the larger hawk species, such as the red-tailed hawk and northern goshawk, have been known to attack cats in this way. Once they have killed the cat, they may drag it a short distance before ripping it apart and eating it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usually, the hawk will have to kill and eat the cat on the ground, as described above, without carrying it off to a safer location. This leaves the hawk exposed and vulnerable, a scenario which most hawks try to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s more, attacking a cat presents an extra challenge for the hawk because the cat is large and heavy, and it usually puts up a fight, making it difficult to kill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unattended kittens are much easier prey, and they are more at risk of hawk attacks than adult cats are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Big Animals Do Hawks Eat?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Though hawks are opportunistic feeders, they generally stick to smaller prey because they cannot carry too much weight. As noted above, they can certainly kill larger, heavier prey, but being unable to fly off with the kill leaves them vulnerable. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hawks may attack larger animals on the ground if they are starving and desperate during food shortages. Some of the larger animals they may eat include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n