Yes, hawks build nests. These birds of prey, belonging to the family Accipitridae, meticulously construct large, sturdy platforms high above the ground to serve as their nurseries. The creation and use of these structures, often called eyries, is a significant annual event for a breeding pair, requiring considerable effort and resource gathering. A successful nest provides a secure location for laying eggs, incubating them, and sheltering the vulnerable nestlings until they are ready to fledge.
Anatomy of a Hawk Nest
Hawks construct a substantial, bowl-shaped structure primarily from coarse, dry sticks and twigs gathered from the surrounding environment. The outer layer, which provides structural support, is generally made from rougher branches, sometimes reaching several feet in diameter, depending on the species and the nest’s age. For instance, a Red-tailed Hawk nest may start at about 2 feet across but can grow much larger over years of reuse. The male and female typically share the building duties, with both partners contributing material, though the female often focuses on shaping the inner cup.
The interior of the nest is carefully lined with finer, softer materials to create a comfortable and insulated central cup for the eggs and hatchlings. Common lining materials include strips of bark, dried grasses, pine needles, moss, and sometimes the hawk’s own down feathers. Many hawk species also incorporate fresh sprigs of green vegetation or conifer boughs into their nests. This practice may serve multiple functions, including camouflage, territorial signaling, or potentially offering a sanitation benefit to the nestling environment.
Choosing the Nest Site
The selection of a nesting location is driven by the need for security, visibility, and proximity to hunting grounds. Hawks generally choose sites that afford them a commanding view of the surrounding landscape. Nests are typically placed high up in the crown or main fork of a tall tree, often between 35 and 90 feet above the ground, where the height provides protection from most ground predators. The species of tree is often less important than its height and structural integrity, though some hawks show preferences; for example, Red-shouldered Hawks often favor mature maple or beech trees.
The chosen site must also offer a degree of concealment, with the nest frequently built close to the main trunk or in a dense fork to utilize existing foliage for camouflage. Hawks prefer to nest in semi-open habitats or near forest edges that provide easy access to open areas for hunting, such as grasslands, fields, or agricultural land. When tall trees are unavailable, certain hawks, like the Red-tailed Hawk, demonstrate adaptability by nesting on man-made structures such as transmission towers, billboard platforms, or natural features like cliff ledges.
Reuse and Annual Maintenance
Hawks exhibit strong site fidelity and frequently reuse the same nest structure year after year, sometimes for decades, provided the habitat is undisturbed. The pair will return and begin a process of repairing the existing structure, which involves adding new layers of sticks, twigs, and soft lining materials to the old base.
Because of this yearly refurbishment, a hawk nest tends to grow progressively larger with each breeding season, transforming into a massive, bulky structure that can reach several feet in height and diameter. While some pairs stick to one primary nest, others may maintain several “alternative” nests within their territory. If the nest site is severely disturbed or suffers a failure due to heavy predation, the hawks will often abandon it and select a new location.