Bald Eagles in California in December
Yes, December is a good month to see bald eagles in California. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 1,236 of the 12,317 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 bald eagles in California
10%
of yearly sightings
1,236
records in December
#5
busiest month of 12
12,317
verified records a year
November 6.6%, December 10%, January 15.4%. Busiest month is January at 15.4%.
12,317 verified observations of bald eagles in California, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When bald eagles are recorded in California
Peak month
January
1,901 records (15.4% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 1,901 | 15.4% |
| Februarypeak | 1,409 | 11.4% |
| March | 1,373 | 11.1% |
| Aprilpeak | 1,407 | 11.4% |
| May | 1,187 | 9.6% |
| June | 972 | 7.9% |
| July | 738 | 6% |
| August | 430 | 3.5% |
| September | 311 | 2.5% |
| October | 546 | 4.4% |
| November | 807 | 6.6% |
| December | 1,236 | 10% |
Bald Eagles you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Bald Eagle | 12,317 |
In California, December carries 10% of the year's bald eagles sightings, about 1.7 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 5th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is rising from November (6.6%) into December, and it heads toward January (15.4%) after. The busiest month is January (15.4%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
The bald eagles most often recorded in California are Bald Eagle. 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 bald eagles you are most likely to see
- Bald Eagle12,317 records
Plan your bald eagle trip in California
Start with live tours near Alcatraz Island, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see bald eagles in California in December?+
Yes. December accounts for 1,236 of the 12,317 verified bald eagles sightings logged in California across the year, which is 10% of the annual total.
Is December a good time to see bald eagles in California?+
December is the 5th busiest month. It is workable, though January and February is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
What month is best for bald eagles in California?+
January is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through January, February and April, based on 12,317 verified observations.
Which bald eagles are you most likely to see in California?+
The most-recorded species in California are Bald Eagle, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See bald eagles in California in other months
More places to see bald eagles
More wildlife in California