Red-tailed Hawk in March
Where red-tailed hawks are in March, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
March in the Red-tailed Hawk's year
March is a month of transition. Winter visitors begin drifting north, the first spring migrants appear in the South, and resident birds are in full song. Weather swings hard — a warm week can push migration early, and a late blizzard can catch migrants short of food.
For the Red-tailed Hawk specifically, March is a spring 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 March
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In March, 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 March
March is inside the Red-tailed Hawk nesting season. Nest: large stick nest high in a tree or on a ledge. Clutch 1–5 eggs, incubation 28–35 days, 1 per season.
The season is broadly synchronized across the range this month. 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 March
- Rabbits, squirrels and carrion
Perches on poles and trees over open yards and fields; keeps rodent numbers down around rural homes.
Migration brings new faces to feeders. Keep seed fresh and watch for birds passing through that you won't see again until fall.
Full Red-tailed Hawk diet guide → · Best feeder for red-tailed hawks →
Watching red-tailed hawks this month
In March, 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 March?
In March, 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 March?
Yes — March falls inside the Red-tailed Hawk nesting season at mid-latitudes.
What do red-tailed hawks eat in March?
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.