Hawks are carnivorous birds of prey with a diet centered on small animals they can hunt or scavenge. Their meals vary by species, habitat, and season, but focus on protein-rich prey.

Primary Prey

Hawks mainly target small mammals like mice, rats, voles, squirrels, rabbits, gophers, and chipmunks, which make up the bulk of their intake for many species such as red-tailed hawks.

They also snatch birds (e.g., sparrows, robins, doves) especially by species like Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks near feeders.

Reptiles and amphibians round out options, including snakes, lizards, frogs, turtles, and salamanders.

Full Diet List

Here's a comprehensive breakdown of common hawk foods, drawn from wildlife observations as of late 2025:

Category| Examples| Common Hawk Species
---|---|---
Small Mammals| Mice, rats, squirrels, rabbits, voles, gophers, prairie dogs, chipmunks, lemmings| Red-tailed, rough-legged, ferruginous 157
Birds| Sparrows, robins, starlings, doves, blackbirds| Cooper's, sharp-shinned 13
Reptiles| Snakes, lizards| Red-shouldered, northern goshawk 15
Amphibians| Frogs, salamanders, turtles| Red-shouldered 1
Insects| Grasshoppers, crickets, dragonflies, moths, larvae| Swainson's, various 15
Other| Fish, bird eggs, carrion (dead animals)| Most species, esp. rough- legged 157

Hunting and Adaptations

Hawks use razor-sharp talons, beaks, and incredible eyesight to spot prey from afar while soaring or perching. In cities, they adapt to urban pigeons, rodents, or even roadkill; rural hawks chase field mice seasonally.

Different types specialize—red-tailed hawks love mammals, while forest- dwellers like red-shouldered go for snakes and frogs.

They occasionally scavenge, helping ecosystems by cleaning carrion, though live hunting dominates.

Diet Variations by Species

  • Red-tailed Hawk : Ground squirrels, rabbits, mice—opportunistic and versatile.
  • Cooper's Hawk : Songbirds at feeders; agile forest hunter.
  • Swainson's Hawk : Insects like grasshoppers in summer, mammals otherwise.
  • Rough-legged Hawk : Voles and lemmings in winter ranges; heavy carrion use.

Imagine a red-tailed hawk circling your backyard this January 2026—spotting a mouse under snow, it dives at 120 mph, securing dinner in seconds. This balance keeps rodent populations in check, vital for healthy ecosystems.

TL;DR : Hawks eat small mammals (most common), birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and carrion—adapting to whatever's available nearby.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.