Red-tailed Hawk Population Analysis
Red-tailed Hawk has surged: up 239% on the route-weighted index since 1968.
About the Red-tailed Hawk
The most common and widespread large hawk in North America, the Red-tailed Hawk soars over open country and perches along roadsides watching for prey.
- Size
- 17.5–25.5 in long, about 2.6 lb (45–65 cm, 1.2 kg)
- Habitat
- Open country, woodlands, cliffs and wetlands, hunting from the air or a high perch.
- Diet
- Small mammals such as voles, rabbits and ground squirrels, plus birds and reptiles.
- Range
- Recorded on 4,034 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 49 states, most concentrated in the Appalachian Mountains.
- Family
- Accipitridae · Birds of prey
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Notable Red-tailed Hawk TrendsNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →
Red-tailed Hawk has surged in surveyed states: up 239% on the route-weighted index since 1968.
Red-tailed Hawk Population Forecast
If the recent trend holds, Red-tailed Hawk is projected to rise about 36% by 2030 — from 1.3 in 2025 to a central estimate of 1.7 (95% range 1.5–2.0). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±23.5%, with 20% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.
Where the Red-tailed Hawk Is Detected
BBS routes recording Red-tailed Hawk, sized by most recent count.
Red-tailed Hawk Population Trend by State
Red-tailed Hawk Population Trend by Region
Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.
Red-tailed Hawk Conservation Status
Least Concern
The IUCN Red List rates this species as Least Concern. Our route-weighted index shows it up about 239% since 1968.
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.