What Is the Red-Tailed Hawk's Food Chain?

Red-tailed hawks are raptors like eagles and falcons. They have special adaptations in their talons, beaks and eyes that make them incredibly powerful and alert. Birds of prey like this are at the top of the food chain in their ecosystems and generally have the pick of whatever they would like to eat as long as they can kill and digest what they are after. There are several different categories describing what makes up an average diet for a red-tailed hawk.

Mammals

Red-tailed hawks eat anything in the mammal family from the smallest mouse up to anything that is approximately raccoon-sized, as long as the hawk can easily carry the prey in its talons. A good portion of its diet is made up of these mammals, unlike some other birds of prey who eat mostly reptiles and fish.

Reptiles and Amphibians

Reptiles and amphibians are also within the food chain of this raptor, and red-tailed hawks regularly will consume snakes, frogs, lizards, salamanders and similar types of animals that are relatively small and easy to stalk and carry away quickly as they swoop in an and out of a particular area.

Other Birds and Fish

These hawks consume other smaller birds such as crows and chicks that have been left unattended or that are in their line of sight and easy to access. They look for ideal situations to obtain their prey, and open areas mean that other birds are unprotected. The hawks also eat fish. It is easy for the hawk to dive into the water, grab a fish and then return to the air.

Road Kill

A small portion of this hawk's diet also consists of animals that have been killed, either by vehicles or by other animals. Hawks get easy nourishment from carrion --- with their powerful talons and beak, they can feast at will and not have to work to catch their prey.