Best Time to See Eagles in the US
January, April and March is the best time to see eagles in the United States. This is a national picture built from 927,368 verified iNaturalist observations across 49 states, showing when and where eagles are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
927,368 verified observations of eagles in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When eagles are recorded in the US
Peak month
January
102,250 records (11% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 102,250 | 11% |
| February | 90,079 | 9.7% |
| Marchpeak | 90,652 | 9.8% |
| Aprilpeak | 94,248 | 10.2% |
| May | 78,397 | 8.5% |
| June | 60,702 | 6.5% |
| July | 55,917 | 6% |
| August | 56,849 | 6.1% |
| September | 60,017 | 6.5% |
| October | 69,354 | 7.5% |
| November | 78,633 | 8.5% |
| December | 90,270 | 9.7% |
Eagles you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Red-tailed Hawk | 280,128 |
| Bald Eagle | 158,554 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 158,126 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 119,976 |
| Northern Harrier | 45,425 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 20,366 |
| Mississippi Kite | 18,112 |
| White-tailed Kite | 13,774 |
Across the country, eagles sightings peak in January, when 102,250 of the 927,368 annual observations are logged, about 11% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through January, April and March.
The best states to see eagles by recorded sightings are California (241,994), Texas (112,678), Florida (61,077), Washington (29,610) and Oregon (27,579). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The eagles you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Red-shouldered Hawk, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see eagles
- eagles in California241,994 sightings, peak January
- eagles in Texas112,678 sightings, peak January
- eagles in Florida61,077 sightings, peak January
- eagles in Washington29,610 sightings, peak April
- eagles in Oregon27,579 sightings, peak December
- eagles in New York27,209 sightings, peak January
- eagles in Pennsylvania25,856 sightings, peak March
- eagles in Ohio25,177 sightings, peak April
- eagles in Colorado24,241 sightings, peak April
- eagles in Maryland24,166 sightings, peak January
- eagles in Arizona23,532 sightings, peak January
- eagles in Virginia21,900 sightings, peak January
- eagles in Massachusetts20,677 sightings, peak April
- eagles in Illinois20,044 sightings, peak January
- eagles in North Carolina17,734 sightings, peak January
Most-recorded eagles species nationwide
- Red-tailed Hawk280,128 records
- Bald Eagle158,554 records
- Red-shouldered Hawk158,126 records
- Cooper's Hawk119,976 records
- Northern Harrier45,425 records
- Swainson's Hawk20,366 records
Plan your eagle trip in California
Start with live tours near California, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near California
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main eagle viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best eagle viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a eagle tour in California
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see eagles in the US?+
January is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through January, April and March, based on 927,368 verified observations across 49 states.
Which states are best for seeing eagles?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, Texas and Florida. California leads with 241,994 verified observations.
How many eagles sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 927,368 verified eagles observations are logged on iNaturalist across 49 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of eagles live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Red-shouldered Hawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.