Hawks in Alaska: What They Eat and Where to Spot Them
In Alaska, hawks primarily eat small mammals like voles, ground squirrels, and snowshoe hares, plus birds and carrion. The most widespread species is the Red-tailed Hawk, though Rough-legged Hawks are common in summer. Start your search in open areas near treelines.
In Alaska, hawks primarily eat small mammals like voles, ground squirrels, and snowshoe hares, plus birds and carrion. The most widespread species is the Red-tailed Hawk, though Rough-legged Hawks are common in summer. Start your search in open areas near treelines.
1. What Do Hawks in Alaska Typically Eat?
Alaska's hawks are opportunistic hunters. Red-tailed Hawks focus on small mammals such as voles, lemmings, and ground squirrels. Rough-legged Hawks, which breed in the Arctic tundra, add ptarmigan and other birds. Sharp-shinned Hawks target songbirds. All hawks will scavenge carrion when available.
See ourHawks guidefor the next step.
2. Where in Alaska Should You Look for Hawks?
Hawks are most often seen in open habitats: the Interior's boreal forest edges, the Kenai Peninsula's grasslands, and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley's farmlands. Along the coast, look for them perched on utility poles or soaring over tide flats. The best odds are in the central and southern regions, especially near Denali National Park.
See ourstate wildlife pagefor the next step.
3. When Is the Best Season for Seeing Hawks in Alaska?
Spring (April-May) and fall (August-September) are peak migration windows, with dozens of hawks passing through. Summer is best for breeding residents like the Red-tailed Hawk. Winter is tough: only Rough-legged Hawks stay in small numbers along the southern coast. Start planning your trip for late April or early September.
See ourHawks dietfor the next step.
4. How to Tell Red-tailed Hawks from Rough-legged Hawks?
Red-tailed Hawks are chunkier, with a dark belly band and a reddish tail visible in good light. Rough-legged Hawks are lighter-bodied, often pale with dark wrist patches (in flight) and a white tail base with a dark terminal band. Watch for tail shape: Red-tailed's is rounded, Rough-legged's is more squared.
See ourstate animal guidefor the next step.
5. What About Lookalikes: Eagles, Falcons, and Others?
Bald Eagles are much larger with a white head and tail. Northern Harriers fly low over marshes with a white rump patch. Falcons (like Peregrine) have narrow, pointed wings and a faster wingbeat. Cooper's Hawks are smaller, with a rounded tail and striped belly. Focus on relative size, wing shape, and tail pattern to separate them.
6. What Hawks Eat in Alaska: A Seasonal Breakdown
Spring: ground squirrels emerging from hibernation. Summer: voles and young birds. Fall: migrating songbirds and leftover berries (incidentally). Winter: carrion and any small mammal that stays active. Rough-legged Hawks eat mostly voles and lemmings year-round but switch to ptarmigan when snow hides rodents.