Quick answer
A red-tailed hawk can reach about Up to 190 km/h (120 mph) in a dive in short bursts. Terrain, motivation, and body condition (about 1.2 kg) all change the number you would measure.
Key takeaway
A red-tailed hawk can reach up to about 190 km/h (120 mph) in a dive in short bursts. Terrain, motivation, and body condition (about 1.2 kg) all change the number you would measure.
Red-tailed Hawk top speed
Published estimates put red-tailed hawk speed near Up to 190 km/h (120 mph) in a dive. These are usually peak sprint figures, not cruising speeds held for long distances across Open country, fields, deserts, and roadsides.
Sprint versus endurance
Most animals accelerate hard for capture or escape, then recover. Open ground favours higher recorded speeds; dense cover favours agility over raw pace.
Anatomy behind red-tailed hawk speed
Limb proportions, muscle fibre mix, and mass (about 1.2 kg) shape acceleration and top end. Heavier individuals may hit hard but tire sooner.
Reading speed claims
Methods differ (radar, filming, anecdote). Prefer ranges from recent field studies over viral single numbers, and never try to outrun wildlife.
Nesting and family life
Pairs often mate for life and return to the same territory year after year, building large stick nests high in tall trees or on cliffs and ledges. The female lays one to three eggs, and both parents share incubation and feeding. Young hawks fledge after about six weeks but may depend on their parents for food for several more weeks.
Behavior and hunting
Red-tailed hawks hunt mostly by perching or soaring and then dropping onto prey with their powerful talons. Their eyesight is several times sharper than a human's, letting them spot a mouse from high above. They are highly adaptable and are often seen perched on fence posts, telephone poles, and trees beside highways, watching the grass below.
Sources
Red-tailed Hawk FAQs
How fast is a red-tailed hawk?
A red-tailed hawk can reach up to about 190 km/h (120 mph) in a dive in short bursts. Terrain, motivation, and body condition (about 1.2 kg) all change the number you would measure.
What is the scientific name of the red-tailed hawk?
Buteo jamaicensis — used in research and conservation listings for red-tailed hawks.
What do red-tailed hawks eat?
Red-tailed Hawks eat rodents, rabbits, reptiles and birds, with seasonal and regional variation in Open country, fields, deserts, and roadsides.
Where do red-tailed hawks live?
They are associated with Open country, fields, deserts, and roadsides. Local presence depends on food, cover, and human land use.
What is the conservation status of red-tailed hawks?
Listed in our guides as Least Concern. Check the IUCN Red List and national assessments for the latest formal category.