Hawks are powerful, long-lived predators — but like most birds, they face a dangerous first year, and getting through it is the key to a long life.
How long do hawks live in the wild?
Wild hawks have high mortality in their first year, but those that survive often live 10 to 20 years. A common species like the red-tailed hawk averages around 10–15 years in the wild, with some individuals living beyond 20. Experience matters — older hawks are simply better hunters and survivors.
Hawks in captivity
Protected from starvation and accidents, hawks in captivity or falconry can live considerably longer — often 20 to 30 years or more. A steady food supply and veterinary care remove many of the dangers that cut wild hawks' lives short.
What shortens a hawk's life
Beyond the risky first year, the biggest threats are collisions with vehicles and windows, and poisoning — especially secondary poisoning from eating rodents killed by rat poison, a major cause of death for hawks and owls. Avoiding rodent poisons is one of the most effective ways to protect them.
The deadly first year
For a hawk, surviving the first twelve months is the hardest test of all. Most young hawks die within their first year, and inexperience is the main reason. A newly independent hawk must learn to hunt on its own, and many simply cannot catch enough food before hunger weakens them. Starvation, then, is the leading killer of youngsters. This heavy early loss is exactly why the average lifespan looks low, even though red-tailed hawks that survive can live ten to fifteen years in the wild. Learn more in our birds of prey guide.
Modern dangers to hawks
Hawks that make it past their first year still face threats created by people:
- Secondary rodenticide poisoning, from eating rodents that have swallowed poison.
- Collisions with vehicles along busy roads.
- Illegal shooting, which still claims birds despite legal protection.
Away from these dangers, hawks can do remarkably well, reaching twenty-five to thirty years in captivity, with the oldest wild bird recorded at about thirty. For their hunting habits, see what hawks eat.