What is a hawk's niche?

The niche of a hawk is determined by its species and, in some cases, is further determined by its sex. Not every species of hawk shares the same niche. An animal's niche is its role within its ecosystem.

An example of two hawk subspecies that have different niches are the red-tailed hawk, which has a varied diet and can be found in many areas of the world, and the snail kite of Southern Florida, whose diet consists solely of apple snails. Birds, as well as every other species, seem to inherently recognize and adhere to their individual niche within the ecosystem. Scientists have discovered that birds of similar species may reside in the same tree, yet still occupy their own particular niches.