<P> The cry of the red - tailed hawk is a two to three second hoarse, rasping scream, described as kree - eee - ar, that begins at a high pitch and slurs downward . This cry is often described as sounding similar to a steam whistle . The red - tailed hawk frequently vocalizes while hunting or soaring, but vocalizes loudest in annoyance or anger, in response to a predator or a rival hawk's intrusion into its territory . At close range, it makes a croaking "guh - runk". Young hawks may utter a wailing klee - uk food cry when parents leave the nest . The fierce, screaming cry of the red - tailed hawk is frequently used as a generic raptor sound effect in television shows and other media, even if the bird featured is not a red - tailed hawk . </P> <P> The red - tailed hawk is carnivorous, and an opportunistic feeder . Their most common prey are small mammals such as rodents and lagomorphs, but they will also consume birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians . Prey varies with regional and seasonal availability, but usually centers on rodents, comprising up to 85% of a hawk's diet . Most commonly reported prey types include mice, including both native Peromyscus species and house mice; gophers, voles, chipmunks, ground squirrels and tree squirrels . Additional prey (listed by descending likelihood of predation) include lagomorphs, shrews, bats, pigeons, quail, corvids, waterfowl, other raptors, reptiles, fish, crustaceans, insects and earthworms . Where found in Caribbean islands, red - tailed hawks prey mostly on reptiles such as snakes and lizards, since these are perhaps the most predominant native land animals of that region . Prey specimens can range to as small a size as beetles and worms . However, they can also prey on marmots, white - tailed jackrabbits, or female wild turkey, all of which are at least easily double the weight of most red - tails . Hawks will eat carrion if need be, although it is not a preferred food source . During winter in captivity, an average red - tail will eat about 135 g (4.8 oz) daily . </P> <P> The red - tailed hawk commonly employs one of two hunting techniques . Often, they scan for prey activity from an elevated perch site, swooping down from the perch to seize the prey . They also watch for prey while flying, either capturing a bird in flight or pursuing prey on the ground until they can pin them down in their talons . Red - tailed hawks, like some other raptors, have been observed to hunt in pairs . This may consist of stalking opposites sides of a tree, in order to surround a tree squirrel and almost inevitably drive the rodent to be captured by one after being flushed by the other hawk . They are opportunistically attracted to conspicuous meals, such as displaying male red - winged blackbirds . </P> <P> The great horned owl occupies a similar ecological niche nocturnally to the red - tail, taking similar prey . Competition may occur between the hawk and owl species during twilight, although the differing nesting season and activity times usually results in a lack of direct competition . Although the red - tail's prey is on average larger (due in part to the scarcity of diurnal squirrels in the owl's diet), the owl is an occasional predator of red - tailed hawks themselves, of any age, while the hawks are not known to predate adult great horned owls . Other competitors include other large Buteo species such as Swainson's hawks and rough - legged hawks, as well as the northern goshawk, since prey and foraging methods of these species occasionally overlap . Hawks have been observed following American badgers to capture prey they flush and the two are considered potential competitors . Competition over carcasses may occur with American crows, and several crows working together can displace a hawk . Larger raptors, such as eagles and ferruginous hawks, may steal hawk kills . </P>

How do red tailed hawks kill their prey
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