Best Time to See Bald Eagles in the US
April, March and January is the best time to see bald eagles in the United States. This is a national picture built from 158,686 verified iNaturalist observations across 49 states, showing when and where bald eagles are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
158,686 verified observations of bald eagles in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When bald eagles are recorded in the US
Peak month
April
18,890 records (11.9% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 17,846 | 11.2% |
| February | 16,786 | 10.6% |
| Marchpeak | 18,174 | 11.5% |
| Aprilpeak | 18,890 | 11.9% |
| May | 15,677 | 9.9% |
| June | 10,550 | 6.6% |
| July | 9,052 | 5.7% |
| August | 7,774 | 4.9% |
| September | 7,805 | 4.9% |
| October | 10,244 | 6.5% |
| November | 11,665 | 7.4% |
| December | 14,223 | 9% |
Bald Eagles you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Bald Eagle | 158,686 |
Across the country, bald eagles sightings peak in April, when 18,890 of the 158,686 annual observations are logged, about 11.9% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through April, March and January.
The best states to see bald eagles by recorded sightings are Washington (14,804), California (12,317), Florida (10,173), Maryland (8,352) and Ohio (8,178). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The bald eagles you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Bald Eagle, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see bald eagles
- bald eagles in Washington14,804 sightings, peak April
- bald eagles in California12,317 sightings, peak January
- bald eagles in Florida10,173 sightings, peak January
- bald eagles in Maryland8,352 sightings, peak January
- bald eagles in Ohio8,178 sightings, peak May
- bald eagles in Oregon7,739 sightings, peak May
- bald eagles in Texas7,167 sightings, peak January
- bald eagles in Minnesota6,710 sightings, peak April
- bald eagles in Alaska6,699 sightings, peak June
- bald eagles in Virginia6,213 sightings, peak April
- bald eagles in Pennsylvania6,122 sightings, peak April
- bald eagles in New York5,320 sightings, peak April
- bald eagles in Colorado4,606 sightings, peak January
- bald eagles in Illinois4,373 sightings, peak February
- bald eagles in Wisconsin3,871 sightings, peak May
Most-recorded bald eagles species nationwide
- Bald Eagle158,686 records
Plan your bald eagle trip in Washington
Start with live tours near Washington, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Washington
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main bald eagle viewing area.
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Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best bald eagle viewing area in Washington.
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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see bald eagles in the US?+
April is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through April, March and January, based on 158,686 verified observations across 49 states.
Which states are best for seeing bald eagles?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are Washington, California and Florida. Washington leads with 14,804 verified observations.
How many bald eagles sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 158,686 verified bald eagles observations are logged on iNaturalist across 49 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of bald eagles live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Bald Eagle, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.