The question of whether a hawk is an apex predator requires examining the bird’s position within its specific food web. While hawks are powerful hunters, the central answer is that most hawk species are generally classified as mesopredators, not true apex predators. This classification recognizes their significant predatory role while also acknowledging that they are sometimes prey themselves. Understanding the distinctions between different trophic levels helps place hawks accurately within their ecosystems.
Defining the Apex Predator
An apex predator is defined by its position at the top of an ecological food chain, occupying the highest trophic level. This designation means the animal has no natural predators once it reaches adulthood in its native habitat. Apex predators exert “top-down regulation” on an ecosystem, meaning their hunting directly controls the population dynamics of species lower in the food web. This control can cause a trophic cascade, where the removal or reintroduction of the apex species causes widespread changes throughout the entire ecological community.
The Hawk’s Role as a Mesopredator
Hawks, which include the broad-winged Buteos and the agile Accipiters, are diurnal raptors that typically function as mesopredators. A mesopredator is a medium-sized predator that is itself preyed upon by larger carnivores. Hawks are highly effective hunters, using strong talons and sharp beaks to capture prey ranging from small mammals like rodents and squirrels to reptiles and other birds. The Red-tailed Hawk, for instance, primarily feeds on rodents, which can make up as much as 85% of its diet.
Despite their predatory power, their relatively smaller size compared to true apex raptors like eagles means they occupy a lower trophic position. Their hunting success depends on agility and speed, often involving a sudden dash from a concealed perch. This level of predation is significant for controlling populations of small animals, but their own population is regulated by species higher on the food chain.
Threats to Hawks in the Ecosystem
The clearest evidence against the hawk’s status as an apex predator is the array of animals that actively prey on them, their eggs, and their young. Nestlings and eggs are highly vulnerable to various predators, including corvids like crows and ravens, as well as mammals such as raccoons. These opportunistic animals often target nests when adult hawks are away hunting.
Adult hawks also face threats from other large raptors, especially those that hunt at night. The Great Horned Owl is considered a significant predator of hawks in North America, capable of taking down species as large as the Red-tailed Hawk. Eagles, including Bald and Golden Eagles, will also prey on smaller or younger hawks and frequently steal their kills, a behavior known as kleptoparasitism. Even larger hawk species like the Northern Goshawk have been known to attack and consume smaller hawks that enter their territory.
Ecosystem Specifics and Exceptions
The classification of any predator is not absolute and can shift depending on the specific ecosystem and geographic location. In certain isolated habitats that lack larger, more dominant predators, a hawk species can effectively operate as the functional apex predator. The largest species, such as the Northern Goshawk or the Ferruginous Hawk, can reach a size that minimizes their risk of predation in many areas.
A healthy adult hawk in a remote territory may have very few or no natural enemies, making it locally dominant. However, this local dominance does not grant them the universal title of apex predator. The vast majority of hawks are subject to predation pressure from larger animals, especially nocturnal owls. The presence of regular, established predators on adult and juvenile hawks confirms their general role as mesopredators in the broader ecological community.