Red-tailed Hawk in November
Where red-tailed hawks are in November, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
November in the Red-tailed Hawk's year
November settles into the winter pattern. Migration tapers to the last hardy stragglers, winter flocks form and start roaming, and birds map out the reliable food sources in their territory. Cold snaps push sudden rushes of activity to feeders.
For the Red-tailed Hawk specifically, November is a fall month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. 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 November
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In November, 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 November
Red-tailed hawks are not nesting in November. The season runs February–June at mid-latitudes.
Outside the nesting season, red-tailed hawks put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in November
- Rabbits, squirrels and carrion
Perches on poles and trees over open yards and fields; keeps rodent numbers down around rural homes.
Winter flocks are forming their routes now — a feeder kept full from November onward becomes a regular stop.
Full Red-tailed Hawk diet guide → · Best feeder for red-tailed hawks →
Watching red-tailed hawks this month
Red-tailed hawks are settled and predictable in November, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
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 November?
In November, 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 November?
No — red-tailed hawks typically nest February through June at mid-latitudes.
What do red-tailed hawks eat in November?
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.