How long can Red-tailed Hawks live?
Answer Red-tailed hawks can live up to two decades. The average life span of red-tailed hawks is roughly 12 to 16 years, with a median of 14 years. In reference to life span, red-tailed hawks are commonly referred to as “chicken hawks”, which is an unfair stereotype, as rodents, snakes, and small game birds comprise the bulk of the red-tail’s diet. Unfortunately, despite legislation to protect these fantastic falcons, red-tails are commonly killed due to the discriminatory name given to them. This is not to say that red-tails are particularly endangered as a species. They inhabit a wide geographic range through North America down through southern Central America and enjoy relatively long life spans due to their excellent hunting ability, superior intelligence, and attribute as being ferociously protective of their young. Fantastic question and thank you, if you get the opportunity to see the red-tail up close, by all means do so. They are beautiful animals with remarkable coloration an
