Hawks in California in December
Yes, December is one of the best months to see hawks in California. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 25,505 of the 242,207 sightings logged across the year (10.5%), 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.
Peak month for hawks in California
10.5%
of yearly sightings
25,505
records in December
#2
busiest month of 12
242,207
verified records a year
November 9.3%, December 10.5%, January 11.9%. Busiest month is January at 11.9%.
242,207 verified observations of hawks in California, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When hawks are recorded in California
Peak month
January
28,743 records (11.9% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 28,743 | 11.9% |
| Februarypeak | 24,611 | 10.2% |
| March | 23,167 | 9.6% |
| April | 20,691 | 8.5% |
| May | 17,142 | 7.1% |
| June | 17,038 | 7% |
| July | 15,052 | 6.2% |
| August | 12,618 | 5.2% |
| September | 15,541 | 6.4% |
| October | 19,661 | 8.1% |
| November | 22,438 | 9.3% |
| Decemberpeak | 25,505 | 10.5% |
Hawks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Red-tailed Hawk | 100,841 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 44,378 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 35,699 |
| Northern Harrier | 15,285 |
| White-tailed Kite | 13,783 |
| Bald Eagle | 12,317 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 5,159 |
| Golden Eagle | 4,009 |
In California, December carries 10.5% of the year's hawks sightings, about 2.2 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 November (9.3%) into December, and it heads toward January (11.9%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so December is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The hawks most often recorded in California are Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk and Cooper's Hawk. 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 hawks you are most likely to see
- Red-tailed Hawk100,841 records
- Red-shouldered Hawk44,378 records
- Cooper's Hawk35,699 records
- Northern Harrier15,285 records
- White-tailed Kite13,783 records
- Bald Eagle12,317 records
Plan your hawk 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 hawks in California in December?+
Yes. December accounts for 25,505 of the 242,207 verified hawks sightings logged in California across the year, which is 10.5% of the annual total.
Is December a good time to see hawks in California?+
December is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of January, December and February.
What month is best for hawks in California?+
January is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through January, December and February, based on 242,207 verified observations.
Which hawks are you most likely to see in California?+
The most-recorded species in California are Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk and Cooper's Hawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See hawks in California in other months
More places to see hawks
More wildlife in California