How long do red-tailed hawks live?
The oldest Red-tailed Hawk on record lived to 30.7 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild red-tailed hawks live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 30.7 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Age at first breeding
- About 2 years
- Eggs per clutch
- 1–5 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
- Size
- 17.7–25.6 in, 24.3–51.5 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 2 of 4
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Red-tailed Hawk can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Red-tailed hawks usually start breeding at about 2 years old. Each season a pair lays 1–5 eggs and raises 1 per season, with eggs taking 28–35 days to hatch.
How red-tailed hawks compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other hawks and eagles on this site.
- Bald Eagle48 years
- Red-shouldered Hawk22.4 years
- Sharp-shinned Hawk19.9 years
More about red-tailed hawks
Frequently asked
How long do red-tailed hawks live?
The longest-lived Red-tailed Hawk on record reached 30.7 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild red-tailed hawks live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Red-tailed Hawk when it first breeds?
Usually about 2 years old.
What is the oldest Red-tailed Hawk ever recorded?
30.7 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Red-tailed Hawk raise in a year?
Pairs lay 1–5 eggs and raise 1 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "large". genomics.senescence.info