Quick answer
Most red-tailed hawks live around 10–15 years in the wild, though predation, disease, habitat quality, and (for pets) veterinary care shift individual outcomes.
Key takeaway
Most red-tailed hawks live around 10–15 years in the wild, though predation, disease, habitat quality, and (for pets) veterinary care shift individual outcomes.
Typical lifespan
Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) typically live around 10–15 years in the wild. Published averages mix wild and managed populations, so treat any single number as a planning range rather than a guarantee.
What shortens life
In the wild, red-tailed hawk mortality is driven by predation, competition, infectious disease, injury, and habitat loss. Food shortages and human conflict also cut average lifespan in many regions.
What supports longer life
Stable habitat, low chronic stress, and adequate nutrition support longevity. Where red-tailed hawks live alongside people, responsible management and veterinary care (for domestic or captive animals) matter as much as genetics.
Life stages
Juveniles face higher mortality than healthy adults. Seniors show slower movement, dental wear, and reduced body condition — useful field signs when comparing age classes.
How this compares
Body size and ecology shape longevity: larger mammals often live longer than small ones, but high-risk lifestyles (open hunting, migration) can reverse that pattern. Always compare like-with-like populations.
Behavior and hunting
Red-tailed hawks hunt mostly by perching or soaring and then dropping onto prey with their powerful talons. Their eyesight is several times sharper than a human's, letting them spot a mouse from high above. They are highly adaptable and are often seen perched on fence posts, telephone poles, and trees beside highways, watching the grass below.
Appearance and the famous call
Adults are bulky hawks with broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail that is brick-red on top. Plumage varies widely from pale to dark birds across their range. Their hoarse, screaming "keeeer" is one of the most recognizable bird sounds in film and television, where it is frequently used as the voice of a bald eagle, which actually has a much weaker call.
Habitat and range
The red-tailed hawk is found across nearly all of North America, from Alaska and Canada down through the United States, Mexico, and into Central America and the Caribbean. It thrives in open and semi-open habitats, including grasslands, deserts, farmland, and the edges of cities, which has helped make it one of the continent's most widespread raptors.
Nesting and family life
Pairs often mate for life and return to the same territory year after year, building large stick nests high in tall trees or on cliffs and ledges. The female lays one to three eggs, and both parents share incubation and feeding. Young hawks fledge after about six weeks but may depend on their parents for food for several more weeks.
Research notes
Figures for red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) come from field studies, museum records, and conservation assessments that do not always agree on exact averages. Prefer ranges over single-point claims, and check whether a source describes wild, captive, or mixed populations.
Practical takeaways
If you encounter red-tailed hawks in the wild, prioritise distance and local guidance. If you care for related domestic or captive animals, match diet and housing to species needs rather than generic pet advice. Share accurate status information (Least Concern) when discussing conservation.
Sources
FAQs
How Long Do Red-tailed Hawks Live?
Most red-tailed hawks live around 10–15 years in the wild, though predation, disease, habitat quality, and (for pets) veterinary care shift individual outcomes.
What is the scientific name of the red-tailed hawk?
Buteo jamaicensis
What do red-tailed hawks eat?
Carnivore (rodents, rabbits, reptiles, birds)
Where do red-tailed hawks live?
Open country, fields, deserts, and roadsides
Are red-tailed hawks endangered?
Listed here as Least Concern. Check IUCN and national lists for the latest assessment.