What do hawks eat?
All raptors are carnivores and therefore, eat only meat. The type of animal preyed upon varies. Different families of raptors catch and consume different kinds of prey. Accipiters such as the Cooper’s Hawk, feed on small birds and also mammals such as cottontail rabbits and squrrels. Falcons generally eat other birds, such as small songbirds, medium-sized birds such as rock pigeons, or even larger birds such as ducks and waterfowl. Hawks and Owls typically prey upon ground dwelling mammals such as mice, voles, rats, squirrels and rabbits. Fish make up a large proportion of the Bald Eagle’s diet. Some species such as the Osprey, a fish-eating specialist, eat only one food type. Many small raptors are termed “insectivorous” due to the high percentage of insects in their diet. Even though all raptors are strictly carnivorous, the diet of any one individual may vary. It is important to remember that while these predators may feed upon animals we find cute or fun to watch, predation is a na
