Hawks aren’t exactly romantic. Monogamy makes life easier and safer for the birds because they don’t have to keep courting their whole lives. Plus, they don’t have to fight another hawk for the right to mate.
There’s a lot of debate about whether or not hawks mourn their lost partners. Some bird enthusiasts believe that they do, but there’s no way to know for sure.
Mated pairs may live near each other, but they’re not going to be cuddling together when it’s not time to breed.
Hawks usually mate on a perch or the ground. If they’ve previously build a nest together, they may return to the nest to breed.
The entire family of hawks will live in the nest for about 2 months.
Some hawks reuse their nests if they’re in good condition. The red-tailed hawk, which is the most common in the United States, prefers to reuse nests multiple times.
Incubate means “to develop. ” Typically, it refers to birds sitting on their eggs to keep them warm while the baby grows inside the egg.
Hawks will defend their nest very vigorously, attacking any bird or animal that tries to approach.
If they’re super hungry, hawks will eat bugs and snakes, but they prefer meatier prey. The father hawk will continue to hunt for the family until the babies are old enough to kill their own prey, which usually happens when they’re 8 weeks old.
Because they feed on small animals, hawk nests can get very gross. The parents may have to replace some of the nesting materials as time goes on.
