Saskatchewan · Year-round resident

Red-tailed Hawks in Saskatchewan

When red-tailed hawks are present in Saskatchewan, when they nest, which native Saskatchewan plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 1a–3b yard.

Hawks and eagles (Accipitridae)Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis
Status in Saskatchewan
Year-round resident
Nesting window
March–June
Broods
1 per season
Hardiness zones
Canada 1a–3b

When to expect red-tailed hawks in Saskatchewan

Red-tailed Hawks live in Saskatchewan all year. Very cold, dry winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them.

Continental — prairie in the south, boreal forest in the north.

Nesting in Saskatchewan

Across Saskatchewan, red-tailed hawks typically nest from March–June. Plan around that window: February for setup, June for clean-out.

Warm, sunny summers.

  • Red-tailed Hawks don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as bur oak, paper birch, chokecherry for nest sites.
  • Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.

Native Saskatchewan plants that attract red-tailed hawks

Of the regional native plants we track for Saskatchewan, these 8 provide food or cover red-tailed hawks use:

Bur oak
Quercus macrocarpa · Tree

Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.

New England aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Tall goldenrod
Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Paper birch
Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa · Shrub

Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.

Balsam fir
Abies balsamea · Tree

Spruce-budworm habitat and dense winter roosting cover.

White spruce
Picea glauca · Tree

Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.

Feeding red-tailed hawks through the Saskatchewan year

  • Top foods: None — hunts mammals in open ground.
  • In Saskatchewan's winter: Very cold, dry winters.

Full diet breakdown for red-tailed hawks · Best feeder for red-tailed hawks

Frequently asked

Are red-tailed hawks in Saskatchewan year-round?

Yes. Red-tailed Hawks are year-round residents in Saskatchewan.

When do red-tailed hawks nest in Saskatchewan?

Nesting in Saskatchewan typically runs March–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 1–5 eggs, incubated for 28–35 days.

What native plants attract red-tailed hawks in Saskatchewan?

Bur oak, New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Chokecherry, Rabbitbrush, Balsam fir, White spruce are native plants in Saskatchewan that provide food or cover for red-tailed hawks.

Red-tailed Hawks in other regions

Other backyard birds in Saskatchewan

Eastern BluebirdBlack-capped ChickadeePurple MartinDowny WoodpeckerHairy WoodpeckerAmerican GoldfinchWhite-breasted NuthatchHouse WrenPurple FinchRuby-throated HummingbirdMourning DoveAmerican RobinDark-eyed JuncoWhite-throated SparrowSong SparrowChipping SparrowNorthern FlickerPileated WoodpeckerYellow-bellied SapsuckerRed-breasted NuthatchCommon GrackleRed-winged BlackbirdBaltimore OrioleRose-breasted GrosbeakEvening GrosbeakPine SiskinCommon RedpollGray CatbirdBrown ThrasherCedar WaxwingTree SwallowBarn SwallowEastern PhoebeYellow-rumped WarblerGreat Crested FlycatcherEastern KingbirdAmerican Tree SparrowHouse SparrowEuropean StarlingBlack-billed MagpieCanada JaySpotted TowheeMountain BluebirdSay's PhoebeFox SparrowLazuli BuntingBullock's OrioleEurasian Collared-DoveAmerican CrowCommon RavenCooper's HawkSharp-shinned HawkBarred OwlGreat Horned OwlAmerican KestrelWood DuckMallardGreat Blue HeronBelted KingfisherBrown-headed CowbirdRuby-crowned KingletGolden-crowned KingletHermit ThrushWinter WrenPine GrosbeakRed CrossbillGray CatbirdWestern TanagerHooded MerganserYellow WarblerCommon YellowthroatAmerican RedstartBlack-and-white WarblerOvenbirdYellow-breasted ChatOrange-crowned WarblerPalm WarblerRed-eyed VireoWarbling VireoLeast FlycatcherWestern KingbirdCliff SwallowNorthern Rough-winged SwallowBank SwallowCommon NighthawkCanada GooseAmerican CootKilldeerSpotted SandpiperBlack-crowned Night HeronTurkey VultureOspreyBald EagleMerlinPeregrine FalconNorthern Saw-whet OwlBurrowing OwlLewis's WoodpeckerBlack-backed WoodpeckerAmerican Three-toed WoodpeckerSavannah SparrowSwamp SparrowVesper SparrowSnow BuntingLapland LongspurHorned LarkCommon RedpollHoary RedpollWhite-winged CrossbillBohemian WaxwingBobolinkYellow-headed BlackbirdBrewer's BlackbirdRusty BlackbirdRock Pigeon

Sources

  1. Red-tailed Hawk — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Red-tailed Hawk life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Red-tailed Hawk — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. eBird region overview and bar charts — Saskatchewan
  5. Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
  6. Audubon Native Plants Database

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.