Eagles in Arizona in December
Yes, December is a good month to see eagles in Arizona. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 2,356 of the 23,532 sightings logged across the year (10%), based on verified iNaturalist records.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.
Good month for eagles in Arizona
10%
of yearly sightings
2,356
records in December
#4
busiest month of 12
23,532
verified records a year
November 7.4%, December 10%, January 11.7%. Busiest month is January at 11.7%.
23,532 verified observations of eagles in Arizona, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When eagles are recorded in Arizona
Peak month
January
2,746 records (11.7% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 2,746 | 11.7% |
| February | 2,130 | 9.1% |
| Marchpeak | 2,585 | 11% |
| Aprilpeak | 2,559 | 10.9% |
| May | 2,006 | 8.5% |
| June | 1,339 | 5.7% |
| July | 1,548 | 6.6% |
| August | 1,718 | 7.3% |
| September | 1,413 | 6% |
| October | 1,391 | 5.9% |
| November | 1,741 | 7.4% |
| December | 2,356 | 10% |
Eagles you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Red-tailed Hawk | 7,386 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 5,596 |
| Harris's Hawk | 2,689 |
| Gray Hawk | 1,119 |
| Zone-tailed Hawk | 1,104 |
| Bald Eagle | 1,080 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 920 |
| Northern Harrier | 889 |
In Arizona, December carries 10% of the year's eagles sightings, about 1.7 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 4th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is rising from November (7.4%) into December, and it heads toward January (11.7%) after. The busiest month is January (11.7%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
The eagles most often recorded in Arizona are Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk and Harris's Hawk. Those counts are annual totals rather than a December split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in December itself.
Which eagles you are most likely to see
- Red-tailed Hawk7,386 records
- Cooper's Hawk5,596 records
- Harris's Hawk2,689 records
- Gray Hawk1,119 records
- Zone-tailed Hawk1,104 records
- Bald Eagle1,080 records
Plan your eagle trip in Arizona
Start with live tours near Chiricahua National Monument, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
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Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main eagle viewing area.
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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see eagles in Arizona in December?+
Yes. December accounts for 2,356 of the 23,532 verified eagles sightings logged in Arizona across the year, which is 10% of the annual total.
Is December a good time to see eagles in Arizona?+
December is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though January and March is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
What month is best for eagles in Arizona?+
January is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through January, March and April, based on 23,532 verified observations.
Which eagles are you most likely to see in Arizona?+
The most-recorded species in Arizona are Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk and Harris's Hawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See eagles in Arizona in other months
More wildlife in Arizona