Small animals run from the fire, and the hawks swoop down to catch a quick dinner. Red-tailed hawks mate for life. During the year, they do not stay in the same tree with each other, but they do share a territory and defend it against other raptors. They start building a nest or fixing up an old one in January or February. The nests are 2 - 3 feet across, made of twigs, bark, and green pine needles.
Nests are usually in the tallest tree.
After courtship, the mother usually lays 3 bluish white eggs with brown spots. The mother sits on the eggs to keep them warm, and the father hunts and feeds her. After 30 days, the babies hatch. The babies learn to fly when they are 1 months old, but they still depend on their parents for food. Because red-tailed hawks are very territorial, it may be hard for the young hawks to find a new place to live.