Hawks are strong birds of prey, which makes them natural predators. But predators can be prey sometimes, which is the case with Hawks.
Hawks have only a few predators and are mostly other birds of prey. This guide will list hawks’ predators and how they kill hawks.
The Predators of Hawks – What Animals Eat Hawks in the Food Chain?
The predators of hawks are mostly powerful birds. However, the predators are not limited to just birds. Coyotes and raccoons also kill and eat them. Here are the major hawk predators:
- Coyotes.
- Eagles.
- Owls.
- Raccoons.
- Snakes.
- Crows.
What Eat Hawks in the Rainforest?
Eagles, bigger hawks and owls are the major predators of hawks in the rainforest. Another animal that sometimes eats hawks in the rainforest is the raccoon, which has great climbing capability and invades nests for baby hawks.
Also read: Are Hawks Dangerous? Do They Attack Humans?
What Eat Hawks in the Desert?
Bigger hawks, owls, raccoons and eagles are hawks’ top predators in the desert. These animals can adapt to any environment hawks live in. Raccoons live in the Sonoran desert and occasionally invade hawk’s nests for food. It is the only non-flying animal that poses a threat to hawks in the desert.
Also read: Are Hawks Friendly? Can You Have a Hawk as a Pet?
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Hawks Have Predators?
Hawks have predators, but they are not very many. Some major hawk predators are eagles, owls, coyotes, snakes, raccoons and crows. These predators often target hawks when young, while some are strong enough to fight and sometimes kill adult hawks for food.
Do Mountain Lions Eat Hawks?
Mountain lions find it difficult to kill hawks because they cannot climb as high as the latter. Cougars or mountain lions occasionally kill and eat land birds like wild turkeys and quails. But they do not enjoy the same dominance as high flyers like the hawks. They cannot get close enough to hawks to kill and eat them.
Do Foxes Eat Hawks?
Foxes have only been recorded to eat hawks’ corpses because they cannot catch the high-flying bird of prey. Also, hawks’ strategic nest locations make it difficult for foxes to get to them and prey on young ones or eggs.
Do Eagles Eat Hawks?
Eagles eat hawks and are one of their major predators. Most eagles target the baby hawks and kill them because they are easier prey. They can also kill adult hawks as they are bigger, stronger and more aggressive. Hawks try to avoid confrontations with eagles as much as possible but will fight to the death if they have to.
Do Hawks Eat Other Hawks?
A hawk can eat another hawk if other prey are scarce to find. This situation is very rare but not impossible. Like most cannibalistic animals, big hawks like the Goshawk have been recorded to eat smaller hawks when desired animals are scarce.
Do Owls Eat Hawks?
Owls eat hawks, targeting babies in nests. Owls and hawks are enemies in the air and will attack each other’s young ones for food. An owl will rarely attack an adult hawk because it cannot successfully subdue it.
Do Coyotes Eat Hawks?
Coyotes can only eat hawks they find on the ground. These are mostly stray baby hawks that have not mastered flying and injured hawks that can no longer fly properly. Coyotes are opportunistic predators that sometimes kill and eat vulnerable hawks.
Can You Eat Hawks?
In many parts of the globe, hawks are considered viable delicacies. They are regularly hunted by hunters and sold in markets. Hawks are said to have a dark and almost bland taste like most birds of prey. They require high spicing for sweetening, according to people who eat them regularly.
Do Lions Eat Hawks?
Lions do not eat hawks because they do not bother to hunt them. Hawks are high flyers, and lions consider them, just like most birds of prey, impossible to catch. If any is lucky to drop dead fresh before a lion, the big cat will eat them. However, such an occurrence is almost an impossibility.
Do Wolves Eat Hawks?
Wolves eat hawks occasionally and are not considered predators of high-flying birds. Wolves cannot catch hawks and may only be lucky enough to find a carcass, a stray baby or incapacitated prey.
Are Hawks Afraid of Crows?
Hawks are scared of a mob of crows. While a hawk will not break too much sweat killing a single crow, a mob will attack in large numbers and kill the hawk. Hawks often avoid crows and do not like hunting them as food.
