Are Red-tailed Hawks Endangered? (Threats, Numbers + FAQs)

red-tailed hawk (Jamaican Buteo) is arguably the most common hawk in North America, with a range extending north from Alaska to Canada, throughout the United States, and south into Central America to Panama and Venezuela.

Read on to learn more about whether these feisty birds of prey have natural predators themselves, as we discuss red-tailed hawk populations and answer the question: Are red-tailed hawks endangered?

The red-tailed hawk is widely distributed in different habitats in the United States and is listed as a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List. Compared to many other species, the red-tailed hawk has adapted well to habitat loss from deforestation and has stable populations.

Red-tailed hawks tolerate urban development and human-inhabited areas as long as there is tree cover and food. They can be found in dappled woodland areas as well as open pastures interspersed with tall trees and denser woodlands, and this ability to adapt to changing landscapes has ensured that their numbers remain stable and even increase in some areas.

During the second half of the 20th century, the species was threatened due to human hunting, the use of DDT in pesticides, and lead contamination of rodents and other common prey of hawks. However, since the 1970s when legislation outlawed falconry and officially protected them, the red-tailed hawk has seen a resurgence.

If you’re interested in learning about these easily identifiable birds of prey and their conservation status in the United States, you’re in the right place. Read on to learn more!

Red-tailed hawk populations are relatively stable, which is why they are listed as a species of least concern

Are red-tailed hawks federally protected?

In 1972, eagles and other birds of prey were added to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, introducing important protections for the red-tailed hawk.

This was a turning point in the survival of the species, and from the 19th century onwards hawks were widely regarded as agricultural pests.

Shooting hawks to control populations and protect livestock was unlimited, and farmers paid bounties of $1,205 per bird in the late 19th century.

Legislation introduced in 1972 not only banned red-tailed hawks from the wild, but also made it illegal to capture them from the wild or buy them as pets.

Red-tailed hawk takes off with its prey clawed

What threats are red-tailed hawks?

Red-tailed hawks aren’t listed as threatened by the IUCN Red List or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but that doesn’t mean their lives aren’t at risk.

Human and anthropogenic threats account for a significant portion of red-tailed hawk deaths, including trapping and poaching, contaminated prey (rat poison), vehicle collisions, and entangled cables.

Like many powerful and aggressive birds of prey, the red-tailed hawk is fairly close to the top of the food chain. But that doesn’t mean they’re immune to predators.

The great horned owl is probably the deadliest predator of the species, primarily targeting nestlings and juveniles. Animals such as coyotes, bobcats, red foxes and raccoons are some of the species’ most common predators, especially when they encounter injured red-tailed hawks.

Red-tailed hawk enters forest to land

How many red-tailed hawks are there in the wild? (population of red-tailed hawks)

Population estimates vary, but the global red-tailed hawk population is thought to be around 2.3 million individuals, with up to 90 percent of all nesting birds found in the United States. The American red-tailed hawk population was estimated at 1.96 million in 2008 and has steadily increased over the past four decades.

How rare is it to see a red-tailed hawk?

Spotting red-tailed hawks isn’t particularly uncommon if you find yourself in their natural habitat of open and semi-open woodlands and grasslands that red-tailed hawks prefer. They are found all over the United States, and are especially common from the window of a car on a long road trip, soaring above the open fields that line the highway.

The once treeless grasslands of the American Great Plains that have become more forested over the last century have seen an increase in the presence of red-tailed hawks.

In the American Midwest, where woodlands have been cleared for human development, the red-tailed hawk is thriving and has overtaken the red-shouldered hawk as one of the most prevalent birds of prey in the region.

Red-tailed hawk soars from below

Which state has the most red-tailed hawks?

Red-tailed hawks are found in every state in the continental United States, either as year-round residents or as breeding or wintering populations.

Breeding populations are supported in every continental state, from Alaska to the Baja Peninsula and the Gulf of Mexico, with many birds migrating south from the northernmost places and Canada during the winter.

The states most likely to see red-tailed hawks are likely to be Washington state and parts of Kansas and Oklahoma, where they are classified as a common species with year-round bird abundance. Dense wintering red-tailed hawks can be found in Washington, Idaho, and Utah.

Close up portrait of red tailed hawk

Is it illegal to kill a red-tailed hawk?

Red-tailed hawks are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which means killing them or removing them from captivity is a federal crime. The only exception is if someone has a federal permit, and even then shooting a red-tailed hawk is only permitted if it’s relevant to public health and safety.

Are red-tailed hawk numbers declining?

Contrary to the declining populations of many wild birds in North America (and globally), the number of red-tailed hawks increased by 1.3 percent per year between 1966 and 2019, according to data from the North American Bird Breeding Survey.

One of the reasons red-tailed hawks are thriving rather than declining despite environmental pressures and changing landscapes is their adaptability to hunt and survive in diverse climates and habitats, including tropical forests, arid deserts and barren grasslands .

Habitat loss due to development and human settlement has not stopped them from claiming territory, and they survive well in urban environments, feeding on the plentiful supply of pigeons and rats in crowded cities.

Red-tailed hawk perched on a branch