Hawks are a diverse group of predatory birds, known for their sharp eyesight, powerful talons, and hooked beaks. These skilled hunters belong to the family Accipitridae, a broad classification that also includes eagles, kites, and harriers. While many associate hawks with hunting small land animals, whether they eat fish depends on the specific hawk species and prey availability.
What Most Hawks Eat
Most hawk species primarily feed on a varied diet of small to medium-sized animals. Their typical prey includes small mammals such as rodents, rabbits, and squirrels, often spotted from high perches or while soaring. Hawks also regularly consume other birds, reptiles like snakes and lizards, amphibians, and even large insects. Their hunting strategies are diverse, ranging from ambushing prey from a concealed perch to soaring high overhead before diving to capture a meal.
For many hawks, small mammals form a significant portion of their diet, sometimes comprising up to 85% for species like the Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). Accipiter hawks, such as the Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) and Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii), specialize in hunting other birds, often navigating dense foliage with agility. While some hawks may occasionally consume carrion, this is usually a secondary food source. The vast majority of hawk species are not adapted to regularly catch fish, as their physical characteristics and hunting techniques are geared towards terrestrial or aerial prey.
When Hawks Eat Fish (And Who Else Does)
While fish are not a regular part of the typical hawk diet, some species may opportunistically consume them. This usually occurs when other food sources are scarce, or if a fish is easily accessible in shallow water or as carrion. For example, some species within the Buteo genus, like the Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus), have been noted to occasionally eat fish, particularly when found near water bodies or when fish are concentrated and vulnerable during low water levels. However, their physiology and hunting style are not specialized for catching live fish from water.
Many birds commonly called “hawks” are specialized fish-eaters belonging to different taxonomic families. The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a prime example, the sole member of its own family, Pandionidae, distinct from true hawks. Ospreys possess unique adaptations for their fish-exclusive diet, which makes up about 99% of their food intake. These adaptations include long, muscular legs, sharp spicules on the soles of their feet for gripping slippery fish, and a reversible outer toe that allows them to grasp prey with two toes forward and two backward.
Ospreys hunt by soaring above water before plunging feet-first into the water to snatch fish with their talons. Their nostrils can close to prevent water entry during dives, and their dense, oily plumage provides a waterproof coating.
Another group associated with fish eating are fish eagles, such as the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and African Fish-eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer), which are part of the Accipitridae family. While bald eagles primarily consume fish, they often catch them from the water’s surface or even steal them from Ospreys, showcasing a different hunting approach than the Osprey’s full plunge.