The Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is one of the most widely distributed birds of prey across North America, successfully inhabiting diverse environments, including arid desert regions. Its presence in these dry lands highlights an adaptability in behavior and diet that allows it to thrive where resources are often sparse. The hawk’s success is dependent on its specialized hunting strategies and a flexible menu of available prey.
The Primary Desert Menu
Small mammals form the core of the Red-Tailed Hawk’s desert diet, often accounting for up to 85% of its total food intake. These hawks primarily target rodents and lagomorphs common in scrublands, such as ground squirrels, pocket gophers, woodrats, and voles. Larger mammalian prey, including cottontail rabbits and jackrabbits, are also regularly hunted and consumed.
Reptiles become a more prevalent component of the desert hawk’s diet compared to those in cooler biomes. Various species of lizards and snakes, including some venomous species like rattlesnakes, are captured and eaten. This ability adds a crucial layer of dietary flexibility when mammalian activity is highly seasonal or localized.
Hunting Tactics in Arid Lands
Red-Tailed Hawks primarily employ a “perch and pounce” strategy, which is highly efficient for conserving energy in the desert heat. They utilize high vantage points, such as tall cacti, rock outcroppings, utility poles, or isolated trees, to scan the open ground for movement.
The hawk’s exceptional visual acuity allows it to spot small prey from a half-mile away. Once prey is spotted, the hawk initiates a swift, closed-wing dive, or stoop, to seize the animal with its sharp talons.
Alternatively, the hawks may hunt by soaring high on thermal uplifts to cover a large territory with minimal effort. While soaring, they can maintain a stationary position by hovering, sometimes called “kiting,” using air currents to watch for movement below.
Seasonal and Opportunistic Feeding
The desert environment dictates a high degree of opportunism in the Red-Tailed Hawk’s feeding habits as food resources fluctuate. During periods of scarcity, such as drought or cold winter months, the hawks readily supplement their diet. This includes consuming carrion, or the remains of dead animals, though it is not their preferred food source.
Insects, especially larger species like grasshoppers and beetles, also become part of the menu, offering a quick source of protein. Small birds, such as doves or blackbirds, may also be targeted if they are caught on the ground.
A significant adaptation for desert life is that the hawks typically meet their water requirements directly from the bodily fluids of their prey. This method of obtaining hydration is necessary in an arid landscape where standing water is scarce.