Hawks are opportunistic and powerful predators that frequently eat rats. This predatory relationship is common across many parts of the world because both animals are highly adaptable, often thriving near human settlements. As a reliable source of concentrated energy, rats represent a worthwhile meal for various raptor species.
Characteristics of Rats as Hawk Prey
Rats provide a significant source of energy and protein, making them a desirable meal for many raptors, especially during nesting season. The typical Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) weighs between 200 and 500 grams, a substantial, single-serving prey item for a medium to large hawk. This size is manageable for a raptor and does not present an undue risk during capture.
Whole-prey rodents offer a complete nutritional package, including necessary fats, proteins, and minerals. Younger rats are considered a nutrient-dense food source. Since rats are active throughout the day, they are frequently available during the diurnal hunting hours of most hawk species.
Primary Hawk Species Known to Hunt Rats
Larger, more powerful raptors are most frequently observed preying on rats, as they can handle the animal’s size. The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) frequently includes rats in its diet. This species possesses the robust build and strong talons necessary to quickly subdue medium-sized mammals.
Red-tailed Hawks often use a “perch-and-wait” hunting strategy, observing an area from a high vantage point before striking. Their body weight, ranging from 700 to 1,600 grams, gives them the mass advantage to capture prey up to the size of a large rat or rabbit. The Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus), found in the southwestern United States and South America, is also a notable rat hunter. Harris’s Hawks are unique for hunting cooperatively in family groups, allowing them to capture larger prey than a solitary raptor might attempt.
Urban and Suburban Hunting Environments
The interaction between hawks and rats is most commonly witnessed in urban and suburban settings, where both species have adapted to living alongside humans. Human-dominated landscapes concentrate food resources, leading to dense rodent populations that become a reliable food source for opportunistic raptors. Hawks take advantage of human infrastructure, using tall buildings, utility poles, and light posts as elevated perches to scan for movement.
The presence of rats in these environments provides a consistent, localized hunting ground for urban hawks. This adaptation has allowed species like the Red-tailed Hawk to establish nesting territories in major metropolitan areas, sustained by a diet of abundant urban prey. However, this reliance introduces a hazard, as raptors can be exposed to harmful chemicals through secondary poisoning if they consume rats that have ingested rodenticides.