What Are Chicken Hawks? Your Guide to These Birds of Prey

The word “chicken hawk” makes me think of mean raptors swooping down to grab farm birds. But what are chicken hawks really? And do they really eat chickens like their name suggests?

We will talk about everything you need to know about these well-known birds of prey in this guide. Find out what chicken hawks eat, the different kinds, and how to keep your flock safe if you need to.

Defining “Chicken Hawk”

The term “chicken hawk” is an informal name used to refer to three species of hawks found in North America:

• Cooper’s Hawk
• Sharp-Shinned Hawk
• Red-Tailed Hawk

These medium-sized raptors all belong to the Accipitridae family. However there’s no single official “chicken hawk” species.

People gave these hawks their name because they are thought to eat a lot of chickens. But that assumption isn’t quite accurate, as we’ll see shortly.

What Do Chicken Hawks Eat?

Contrary to their reputation, chicken hawks do not subsist primarily on domestic chickens or their relatives. Chickens make up a very small part of their diet.

Both Cooper’s Hawks and Sharp-Shinned Hawks hunt mice, voles, rabbits, and squirrels, among other small birds and mammals. Chickens account for only around 2% of their food.

Red-Tailed Hawks go after small mammals almost exclusively. About 75% of their diet is rodents. They might opportunistically grab a free-range chicken, but it’s rare.

The name “chicken hawk” comes from these birds’ ability to take down bird prey like quail, not specifically chickens. All three species are accomplished bird hunters when the situation calls for it.

But small mammals and other prey make up the bulk of their meals. Chickens are relatively safe from them.

Appearance and Size

The three chicken hawk species differ in size and plumage:

• Cooper’s Hawks are crow-sized with blue-gray upperparts and reddish barring on the underside and tail.

• Sharp-Shinned Hawks are robin-sized with blue-gray upperparts and fine reddish bars on the lighter underside.

• Red-Tailed Hawks are the largest. They have brown upperparts and trademark reddish tail feathers. The underside can range from light with dark streaks to nearly solid brown.

So if you spot a medium-sized hawk with a reddish tail hunting in your area, it’s likely a red-tailed. A smaller hawk with bluish wings and reddish markings could be a Cooper’s or sharp-shinned.

Hunting Habits

The hunting strategies of the three chicken hawks differ somewhat:

• Cooper’s Hawks stealthily stalk through dense woods and thickets in search of prey. They use trees and bushes as cover during their ambush attacks.

• Sharp-Shinned Hawks also launch surprise attacks after concealed approaches, but may also fly fast and low through open habitats when chasing prey.

• Red-Tailed Hawks typically perch in high, open areas watching for small mammal activity. They dive down swiftly to catch prey in more open terrain.

So chicken coops surrounded by trees or brush are more likely to draw Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks, while free-ranging chickens in open fields are more vulnerable to red-tailed hawks.

Protecting Your Flock

Fortunately, there are ways to safeguard your chickens from chicken hawks:

• Keep chickens in a secure run. A run with a wire roof prevents access by hawks.

• Provide shelter and hiding spots. Shrubs, tall grass, and enclosed coops give chickens cover.

• Use guard animals. Some dogs, guinea fowl, and roosters can alert chickens or deter hawks.

• Limit free-ranging. Supervise chickens when out of their enclosure, especially around dawn/dusk when hawks hunt.

• Try deterrents. Scarecrows, reflective surfaces, and predator decoys may help ward off hawks.

Following the law is also critical. All native hawk species are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. So lethally removing or injuring chicken hawks, or disturbing their nests, can result in fines and even jail time.

Chicken Hawk Facts

To wrap up, here are a few fast facts about these formidable raptors:

• Chicken hawks help control rodent and rabbit populations. This benefits farmers and homeowners.

• The term chicken hawk is considered obsolete by ornithologists, but persists in rural areas.

• Sharp-shinned hawks are the smallest chicken hawk species, while red-tailed hawks are the largest.

• Chicken hawks can attack chickens up to about their same size, but prefer easier prey.

• Shooting, poisoning, or disturbing chicken hawks is punishable under federal law. Deterrents are a better option.

So while chicken hawks can occasionally pick off poultry, they aren’t the vicious chicken hunters their name implies. With some preventive measures, you can keep your flock safe and comply with laws protecting these important raptors.