Red-tailed Hawk
Year-round Resident
About the Red-tailed Hawk
The most common raptor along the Front Range. Watch for them soaring on thermals or perched on poles.
When to See Them in Colorado
Year-round. The Red-tailed Hawk is a permanent resident in Colorado and one of the most reliable backyard visitors. You can spot them at your feeders in every season. Their population tends to peak in late fall and winter when resident birds flock together and become even more feeder-dependent.
Birding tip: Morning hours — especially the first two hours after sunrise — are when resident species like the Red-tailed Hawk are most active and vocal. Set up your feeders in a spot with good sightlines from a window and you'll rarely miss them.
What They Eat
In Colorado, the Red-tailed Hawk's diet reflects what's locally available across seasons. At feeders, they're most drawn to Not a feeder bird — hunts rodents, which mirrors the high-energy foods they seek in the wild. Offering the right food in the right feeder is the single biggest factor in successfully attracting Red-tailed Hawks to your yard.
During nesting season, Red-tailed Hawks also rely heavily on insects as a protein source for their young — so a pesticide-free garden benefits them beyond just the feeder.
How to Attract Them to Your Yard
Creating a welcoming habitat for Red-tailed Hawks in Colorado is straightforward once you understand what they need. Here are the most effective steps our experts recommend:
- Provide a clean water source year-round. A bird bath (heated in cold climates) is one of the best investments you can make — fresh water is often scarcer than food.
- Plant native shrubs and trees that produce berries or shelter nesting birds. Native plants adapted to Colorado's climate are the best choices for your garden.
- Keep feeders within 3 feet or beyond 30 feet of windows to minimize window strike risk — the most common cause of feeder-bird fatalities.
- Clean feeders regularly. Moldy or wet seed drives birds away and can spread disease through your local bird population. WBU No-Mess blends minimize hulls and spoilage.
Attract More Red-tailed Hawks to Your Yard
The right combination of food, feeders, and water makes all the difference. Our expert recommendations:
No-Mess Seed Blends
Our signature blends are formulated for local birds and contain no filler seed. Shell-free — no mess under your feeder, and every kernel gets eaten.
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Tube & Hopper Feeders
From compact tube feeders to large capacity hoppers, we carry styles suited to every yard and every budget. Our staff can match you to the right feeder for Red-tailed Hawks.
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Bird Baths & Water Features
Fresh water draws more birds than any feeder. Our bird baths keep water fresh and inviting — and the dripper adds the sound and motion that catches birds' attention from far away.
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