Quick answer
Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) typically live around 10–15 years in the wild. Wild averages fall when predation, disease, or habitat loss rise; managed populations can live longer with stable food and veterinary care.
Key takeaway
Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) typically live around 10–15 years in the wild. Wild averages fall when predation, disease, or habitat loss rise; managed populations can live longer with stable food and veterinary care.
Red-tailed Hawk lifespan in the wild
Field and museum records place most red-tailed hawks near 10–15 years in the wild. That figure blends ages at death across regions, so treat it as a planning range. Body size (about 1.2 kg) and risk lifestyle both shape the average.
What shortens red-tailed hawk lives
Predation, infectious disease, injury, food shortages, and habitat fragmentation cut survival. Roadkill and human conflict matter wherever red-tailed hawks share landscapes with people.
What helps red-tailed hawks live longer
Connected habitat, low chronic stress, and reliable food support longevity. For captive or domestic relatives, species-correct diet and veterinary screening matter more than generic “pet” advice.
Red-tailed Hawk life stages
Juveniles usually face higher mortality than prime adults. Older animals may move less, show dental wear, or lose body condition — useful signs when ageing red-tailed hawks in the field.
Habitat and range
The red-tailed hawk is found across nearly all of North America, from Alaska and Canada down through the United States, Mexico, and into Central America and the Caribbean. It thrives in open and semi-open habitats, including grasslands, deserts, farmland, and the edges of cities, which has helped make it one of the continent's most widespread raptors.
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.
Sources
Red-tailed Hawk FAQs
How long do red-tailed hawks live?
Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) typically live around 10–15 years in the wild. Wild averages fall when predation, disease, or habitat loss rise; managed populations can live longer with stable food and veterinary care.
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.