Red-tailed Hawk in February
Where red-tailed hawks are in February, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
February in the Red-tailed Hawk's year
February still feels like deep winter, but days are lengthening and the first stirrings of the breeding season begin — resident birds start singing on mild mornings and some early nesters are already claiming territories. Late-winter storms can be the hardest feeding days of the year.
For the Red-tailed Hawk specifically, February is a winter month inside the nesting season — one of the most active and demanding periods of this bird's year. Across the 58 states and provinces where red-tailed hawks occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where red-tailed hawks are in February
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In February, red-tailed hawks are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in February
February is inside the Red-tailed Hawk nesting season — about a month earlier in the South and a month later in the North. Nest: large stick nest high in a tree or on a ledge. Clutch 1–5 eggs, incubation 28–35 days, 1 per season.
In the South the season is already underway, while northern birds are still settling territories — a pair in Florida or Texas may be on eggs weeks before a pair in Minnesota or Ontario has even chosen a nest site. During the nesting months, adults switch to protein-rich foods for their young, become more secretive around the nest site, and often visit feeders in quick, purposeful trips rather than lingering.
What to feed in February
- Rabbits, squirrels and carrion
Perches on poles and trees over open yards and fields; keeps rodent numbers down around rural homes.
Don't let feeders run empty during late-winter storms; birds burn enormous energy staying warm. This is also the month to clean and repair nest boxes before early nesters move in.
Full Red-tailed Hawk diet guide → · Best feeder for red-tailed hawks →
Watching red-tailed hawks this month
In February, the best watching is around food rather than the nest — adults make repeated foraging trips and are most visible at dawn and dusk. Give nesting birds space: if a bird is carrying food or scolding you persistently, you're close to a nest and should back off.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region red-tailed hawks are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Red-tailed Hawk month by month
Red-tailed Hawk by state
Frequently asked
Where are red-tailed hawks in February?
In February, red-tailed hawks are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do red-tailed hawks nest in February?
Yes — February falls inside the Red-tailed Hawk nesting season at mid-latitudes.
What do red-tailed hawks eat in February?
Rabbits, squirrels and carrion.
Sources
- Red-tailed Hawk — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red-tailed Hawk life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red-tailed Hawk — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
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.