11 Facts About Hawks You Didn't Know

Hawks, with their striking appearance and impressive hunting abilities, have long fascinated birdwatchers, nature enthusiasts, and even ancient civilizations. While most of us are familiar with their role as skilled predators, there are numerous surprising facts about these majestic birds of prey. Here are 11 fascinating things you probably didn't know about hawks.

1. VISUAL ACUITY OF UP TO 8 TIMES STRONGER THAN HUMANS

Hawks are renowned for their sharp eyesight, which is crucial for their survival. Hawks have visual acuity up to 8 times stronger than humans. They can spot prey as far as 4-8 km (2.5-5 miles) away. While we may struggle to spot something at a distance, hawks can easily detect a tiny mouse or rabbit from over a mile away. Their eyes have specialized structures that help them track moving prey while soaring high in the sky. Their ability to see ultraviolet light further enhances their hunting capabilities.

2. VARIED DIET

While hawks are carnivores, their diet is far more diverse than you might think. Hawks primarily hunt small mammals, such as rabbits, squirrels, and voles, but they are also known to catch birds, reptiles, amphibians, and even insects. Some species, like the red-tailed hawk, have been observed hunting snakes, which they catch and swallow whole. Hawks are opportunistic feeders and will sometimes scavenge for food, eating carrion or small animals they find while soaring over fields or forests.

3. AMONG THE FASTEST BIRD IN THE SKY

 When hunting, some species, such as the peregrine falcon (a close relative of hawks), can dive at speeds exceeding 150 miles per hour. While not all hawks are this fast, many species can still reach impressive speeds while hunting or migrating. The sharp-winged hawk, known for its agility, can chase prey at incredible speeds, navigating through forests with remarkable precision. Species such as the Cooper’s hawk are particularly adept at chasing prey through wooded environments. These hawks rely on quick reflexes and sharp turns to outmaneuver smaller birds and mammals. Their ability to adapt their flight patterns to the terrain highlights their exceptional agility.

4. LONG MIGRATION JOURNEYS 

Many hawk species are migratory, traveling thousands of miles each year between their breeding grounds and wintering territories. The broad-winged hawk, for example, embarks on an annual migration from North America to Central and South America. Along their migratory paths, hawks rely on thermal air currents to soar for long distances with minimal effort. During migration, some species gather in large groups, known as "kettles," which can contain hundreds or even thousands of birds soaring together.

5. THEY CAN ADAPT TO CITY LIFE

Many hawk species have adapted remarkably well to urban environments. Red-tailed hawks and Cooper’s hawks, for example, thrive in cities, using skyscrapers as perches and hunting pigeons and rats instead of their usual rural prey. 

6. THEY CAN RECOGNIZE HUMAN FACES 

Studies suggest that hawks, like some crows and parrots, can recognize individual humans. If a hawk perceives someone as a threat or a provider of food, it may remember that person and adjust its behavior accordingly.

7. THEIR SCREECHES IN MOVIES ARE OFTEN FAKE

The classic “hawk screech” often heard in movies isn’t actually from a hawk—it’s usually the call of a red-tailed hawk, which Hollywood uses for dramatic effect. Many hawk species, like the sharp-shinned hawk, actually have high-pitched, almost whistle-like calls that wouldn’t sound nearly as menacing on screen.

8.  THEY HAVE A "HAWK HIGHWAY" IN THE SKY. 

Migratory hawks follow invisible routes known as flyways, which take advantage of rising warm air currents called thermals. These flyways help them conserve energy as they travel thousands of miles each year between breeding and wintering grounds. 

9. USE FIRE TO HUNT 

Hawks themselves do not create fire, but there have been reports of certain birds of prey—like black kites, whistling kites, and brown falcons in Australia—spreading fire to hunt. This behavior is sometimes called "firehawking."

How Does Fire-Hunting Work?

1. Carrying Burning Sticks: Some reports suggest that these birds pick up smoldering sticks from wildfires and drop them in dry grass to spread the fire.
2. Flushing Out Prey: As the fire spreads, small animals (like insects, rodents, and reptiles) flee from the flames, making them easy targets for the birds.
3. Scavenging from Existing Fires: Even if they don’t start fires, many raptors take advantage of wildfires by hunting prey escaping from the flames.

Is This Behavior Proven?

While Indigenous Australian communities have long observed and documented this behavior, scientific confirmation is still ongoing. However, many researchers believe it’s possible based on multiple eyewitness accounts.

Hawks like red-tailed hawks and other raptors in North America are not known to do this, but they do take advantage of wildfires by hunting near them.

10. ADJUST THEIR FEATHERS TO REDUCE DRAG

Hawks adjust their feathers to reduce drag and optimize flight efficiency. They use several mechanisms to control airflow and maneuver smoothly:

Spreading and Adjusting Feathers

• Slotted Primary Feathers: The outermost wing feathers (primaries) spread apart at the tips, reducing turbulence and drag while increasing lift. This is especially useful for soaring.
• Tucking Feathers: Hawks can tuck in their wings slightly during high-speed dives to streamline their body and reduce drag.

 Tail Adjustments

• Fanned Tail for Stability: When gliding or landing, they spread their tail feathers to help control drag and stability.
• Closed Tail for Speed: When diving or accelerating, they fold their tail to cut through the air more efficiently.

Hawks are incredible at controlling their aerodynamics, which helps them soar effortlessly and strike prey with precision!

11. COURTSHIP BEHAVIORS 

Hawks have unique mating rituals that vary depending on the species. Their courtship behaviors are often dramatic and aerial, showcasing agility and strength Here are some examples:

Aerial Displays: Many hawk species perform aerial displays as part of their mating rituals. For example, the red-tailed hawk performs a "sky-dancing" display, where the male flies high into the air and then dives down in a steep, swooping motion.

Courtship Flights: Some hawk species, such as the Swainson's Hawk, perform courtship flights where the male and female fly together, often in a synchronized manner.

Gift-Giving: In some hawk species, the male presents the female with gifts, such as food or nesting materials, as part of the mating ritual.

Nesting Displays: Some hawk species, such as the Cooper's Hawk, perform nesting displays where the male builds a nest or adds nesting materials to an existing nest to attract a female.

Mutual Preening: Some hawk species, such as the gyrfalcon, engage in mutual preening, where the male and female groom each other's feathers as part of the mating ritual.