19 Types of Eagles in California
19 types of eagles from the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae) have a verified observation record in California. The most frequently recorded are Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk and Cooper's Hawk. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
Quick Answer
19 types of eagles from the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae) have a verified observation record in California. The most frequently recorded are Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk and Cooper's Hawk. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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Verified species, source iNaturalist
19 types of eagles recorded in California
19 eagles species have a verified observation record in California across the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae), each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
| # | Species | Scientific name | Verified records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | 100,708 |
| 2 | Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | 44,278 |
| 3 | Cooper's Hawk | Astur cooperii | 35,630 |
| 4 | Northern Harrier | Circus hudsonius | 15,276 |
| 5 | White-tailed Kite | Elanus leucurus | 13,769 |
| 6 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | 12,297 |
| 7 | Swainson's Hawk | Buteo swainsoni | 5,151 |
| 8 | Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | 4,012 |
| 9 | Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | 3,128 |
| 10 | Ferruginous Hawk | Buteo regalis | 2,602 |
| 11 | Rough-legged Hawk | Buteo lagopus | 434 |
| 12 | Zone-tailed Hawk | Buteo albonotatus | 315 |
| 13 | Harris's Hawk | Parabuteo unicinctus | 213 |
| 14 | American Goshawk | Astur atricapillus | 176 |
| 15 | Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | 157 |
| 16 | Swallow-tailed Kite | Elanoides forficatus | 108 |
| 17 | Gray Hawk | Buteo plagiatus | 31 |
| 18 | Mississippi Kite | Ictinia mississippiensis | 29 |
| 19 | Common Black Hawk | Buteogallus anthracinus | 17 |
Plus 1 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
Gear and field guides
The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is the most commonly recorded, with 100,708 verified observations — about 42% of all eagles reported in California. If you spot a eagle here, it is statistically most likely to be this one.
California also hosts less common eagles such as Gray Hawk, Mississippi Kite and Common Black Hawk, each recorded fewer than 100 times. These are the species worth a second look when you are out, since a sighting is more notable.