Hawks in Arkansas in January

Yes, January is one of the best months to see hawks in Arkansas. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 420 of the 4,145 sightings logged across the year (10.1%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

T

By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Bald Eagle photographed in ArkansasBald Eagle photographed in ArkansasCooper's Hawk photographed in Arkansas
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for hawks in Arkansas

10.1%

of yearly sightings

420

records in January

#2

busiest month of 12

4,145

verified records a year

December 9%, January 10.1%, February 8.9%. Busiest month is May at 10.9%.

Best months: May, January, April

4,145 verified observations of hawks in Arkansas, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When hawks are recorded in Arkansas

Peak month

May

452 records (10.9% of the year)

Quietest month

October

231 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak42010.1%
February3698.9%
March3608.7%
Aprilpeak3779.1%
Maypeak45210.9%
June3428.3%
July3368.1%
August2957.1%
September2335.6%
October2315.6%
November3588.6%
December3729%

Hawks you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Red-shouldered Hawk1,197
Bald Eagle935
Red-tailed Hawk771
Mississippi Kite538
Cooper's Hawk238
Broad-winged Hawk205
Northern Harrier123
Sharp-shinned Hawk55

In Arkansas, January carries 10.1% of the year's hawks sightings, about 1.8 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 2nd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from December (9%) into January, and it heads toward February (8.9%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so January is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The hawks most often recorded in Arkansas are Red-shouldered Hawk, Bald Eagle and Red-tailed Hawk. Those counts are annual totals rather than a January split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in January itself.

Which hawks you are most likely to see

  • Red-shouldered Hawk1,197 records
  • Bald Eagle935 records
  • Red-tailed Hawk771 records
  • Mississippi Kite538 records
  • Cooper's Hawk238 records
  • Broad-winged Hawk205 records
Plan your tripArkansas Post National Memorial

Plan your hawk trip in Arkansas

Start with live tours near Arkansas Post National Memorial, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see hawks in Arkansas in January?+

Yes. January accounts for 420 of the 4,145 verified hawks sightings logged in Arkansas across the year, which is 10.1% of the annual total.

Is January a good time to see hawks in Arkansas?+

January is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of May, January and April.

What month is best for hawks in Arkansas?+

May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, January and April, based on 4,145 verified observations.

Which hawks are you most likely to see in Arkansas?+

The most-recorded species in Arkansas are Red-shouldered Hawk, Bald Eagle and Red-tailed Hawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.