A hawk is a raptor that belongs to the Accipitridae family.It is the most famous bird of prey, known for its hunting skills and sharp vision. The prime habitat of this medium-sized bird is the desert.It also dwells in fields and forests. Unlike other birds of prey, hawks can only use their talons to kill their prey. Their talons are sharp, curved and powerful enough to pierce through the skin of any animal. They are skilled predators that can take down any animal that is smaller than them. These birds eat aerial insects, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. The baby hawk, also known as an eyas, is fed by the adult birds for 40-50 days after its birth. The lifespan of hawks is 20 years. They build their nests in tall trees that are far from the ground. These birds perch on tall trees, which allows them to trace the movements of their prey easily.Continue reading to know more about the hunting habits of hawks and their prey. You can also check out our other articles on eagles vs hawks and groups of hawks.What animals do hawks hunt?Hawks are carnivorous birds. They are some of the biggest birds of prey.This enables them to catch small animals and other smaller birds effortlessly. Most of these birds are seen carrying a mouse or a snake. However, these are not the only things they eat. Rather than being picky like other birds, hawks have evolved to be opportunistic hunters over time due to the scarcity of food. Hawks can catch and eat anything that is smaller than them. They hunt small animals like rabbits, squirrels, frogs, and turtles. Snakes, lizards, fish and poultry are also delicious treats for them. They also feed on aerial insects and other mammals. Hawks keep the population of songbirds and rodents in check.How Hawks HuntThe term hawk-eyed is a good example that explains how impeccable a hawk’s eyesight is. They do have other skills that aid in hunting. However, nothing beats their eyesight, which allows them to spot an ant from a tree.A hawk will perch on a tall tree and note down every movement of its prey. They glide down and use their razor-sharp talons to snag their prey. These raptors are extremely intelligent. Red-tailed hawks have a special hunting technique; instead of tricking their prey, they let out a sharp screech. Their prey’s first reaction is to run. Once they are exhausted, red-tailed hawks will fly down to attack and easily kill their prey with their sharp talons. Another common method is soaring and gliding. This simple approach allows them to cover a large area while looking for food by expending little energy. Some hawk species have also mastered flying right through trees at a speed of 150 mph (241.4 kph) while hunting.Do hawks hunt prey at night?The notion that all hawks hunt at night is a fallacy.Hawks are diurnal birds that only hunt during the day. Though their eyesight is acute, hawks do not have night vision, unlike other nocturnal birds like owls. Then why do people think all hawks hunt at night? This is because hawks hunt during the late evening. Names of other bird species like nighthawks are also misleading, often giving people the idea that hawks hunt at night. Only a handful of hawk species hunt at night.Why do some hawks hunt at dusk?Some species, like the red-tailed hawk, hunt at dusk and dawn.They mainly feed on aerial insects and nocturnal mammals that are only active at night. Hawks can hide better and hunt easily at dusk. Hunting at night provides a greater choice of prey while requiring minimal energy. Though a red-tailed hawk does not have night vision, it can still see a lot of colors, especially black and white, very well in the late evenings. For these reasons, some hawks prefer hunting at dusk and in the early morning. However, they go back to their nests at night.What time of day do hawks hunt?Hunting during the day is common in hawks as they are diurnal birds. Why do hawks prefer hunting in broad daylight?Their eyesight is eight times sharper than the eyesight of humans. Since they rely on their eyesight and other hunting techniques like gliding when they search for prey, they work best during the daytime; they prefer hunting during the day. The exact time at which they hunt in the day can depend on multiple factors, including the availability of prey and climate. Hunting time also varies from one species to another. A general report states that a hawk is most active during the early hours of the day, after which it takes a break. Once again, the hawk starts hunting in the late afternoon. This is just a vague report. Narrowing down the exact time is much harder with hawks, as they are opportunistic hunters whose hunting time is mainly affected by the type of prey and availability of prey. Their activity is limited at night, as they take a rest. Hawks perch on tall trees at night. A sleeping hawk looks headless as it covers its head within its wings.How do hawks not fall off of trees? They do not fall due to an involuntary reflex. When hawks sit on trees, their sharp talons automatically grasp and lock onto the branches, preventing them from falling. Some hawks, like red-tailed hawks, have a specialized Velcro-like tissue on the inside of their legs. This is called the foot lock technique.Do hawks hunt in groups or in pairs?The hunting behavior also varies depending on the species. Hawks are exceptional hunters that are known for their hunting techniques, razor-sharp talons and enormous size. With all this, a hawk can easily catch and kill any animal, even if the animal is faster than the hawk. Because of this, a hawk does not need the help of others to hunt.Some hawks, like the Harris hawk, do not just nest in groups, but also hunt in groups. Due to this hunting behavior, they are also known as wolves with wings. Harris hawks come together in groups consisting of two to six members. This hawk species mainly occupies arid regions. Due to the scarcity of prey in these regions, they are forced to form groups while hunting. This intelligent bird has an amazing hunting technique wherein a small group first flies and looks for prey. The areas further away are covered by another small group, increasing the probability of bagging prey. The hunted animals are shared equally among all members of both groups. The Harris hawk is known for chasing and hunting animals on foot. Most hawks do not spend much time on the ground, but the Harris hawk is pretty quick on the ground. This allows them to cover a large area in a short span of time. Hawks, like red-tailed hawks, also catch animals in pairs. During the mating season, most hawks hunt in pairs. The male hawk brings food to the female hawk while she protects the eggs.Hawk Hunting Time According To The WeatherHawk hunting behavior changes between seasons.Hawks are active throughout the day in the summer season. They fly and hunt between early and mid-morning, after which they take a break. They are once again active in the late evening.This bird hunts more intensely in the winter season as the availability of prey is lower. The number of daylight hours is also less. Hence, they start early in the morning and hunt until late evening. They seek cover at night.Keep Your Pets Safe From HawksHawks are predators that can easily carry and hunt animals that weigh 2-3 lb (0.9-1.36 kg) or less. Apart from aerial insects and mammals, hawks can hunt pets too. However, hawks rarely attack pets like dogs and cats. If your pets are under 2-3 lb (0.9-1.36 kg), the chance of a hawk attacking them is higher. The large size of these raptors puts them at an advantage when it comes to an attack. They also hunt pets like rabbits and squirrels. The most common attack is on poultry. We have a few tips which will help keep your pets safe from these wild hunters.Hawks are attracted to many things present in your yard, like insects, rodents or even other birds. Shooing them away is not as easy as you think, as these birds can also attack humans. Shooting or hurting a hawk might not be a great idea either, as this bird is protected by law in many states. You will need a license to catch and keep them in captivity.Hawks are scared of other birds of prey, such as owls and eagles, since they can be larger. Once a hawk spots an owl or eagle, it will immediately flee the area. Having fake owls and eagles will prevent them from entering your backyards.A properly constructed coop can save your chickens. You can also use chicken wire in areas around the coop. It provides additional protection.Roosters can be very annoying in the morning, but they can be used as safety alarms. The moment a rooster spots a hawk, it will let out loud monotonous calls, which will alert you. When two or three roosters join together, their calls can even shoo away a desperate hawk.A hawk, just like any other bird, finds reflectors spooky. Silver mylar strips, CDs, DVDs and many other reflective items will catch a hawk’s eye and keep them away.Hawks search an area for predators before trying to attack or kill prey, so getting a watch dog may save your other pets.As hawks are highly sensitive to changes, they are used as ecological barometers. They quickly notice things that humans fail to notice. Hawks can detect chemical spills and the levels of chemicals present in an area. The presence of hawks tells us a lot about the quality of a habitat. A group of hawks is called a kettle, cast or boil.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for ‘Hawks hunt’, then why not take a look at ‘Hawk symbolism’ or ‘Hawk facts’?
A hawk is a raptor that belongs to the Accipitridae family.
