What is a hawk's habitat?


Quick Answer

According to National Geographic, the habitats of red-tail hawks, which are the most common hawks in North America, are lofty perches that allow them to look out for potential prey. They are often seen atop utility poles and in open areas, such as fields and deserts.

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What is a hawk's habitat?
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Full Answer

National Geographic explains that hawks dwell in high perching places that allow them to watch for prey. They are adaptable and also live in mountains and tropical rain forests. Hawks have also adapted to human habitats, and they are typically seen perching on telephone poles and open spaces along the roadside where they can seize prey, such as squirrels, mice, reptiles and rabbits. Red-tails are common throughout North America.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology states that red-tail hawks occupy nearly all types of open habitat, including roadsides, grasslands, scrublands, deserts, parks, fields, pastures and broken woodland. Both the female and male hawks build nests or sometimes refurbish their old nests. Their nests are generally tall piles of dry sticks reaching 6.5 feet high.

The Audubon Magazine explains that another type of hawk, the Hawaiian hawk, is found in various types of habitats in Hawaii, including pasturelands, exotic forests, lowlands and native forests up to 8,900 feet in elevation. The Hawaiian hawk builds large and bulky nests consisting of twigs.

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