Eagles in Colorado in December

Yes, December is a good month to see eagles in Colorado. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 2,053 of the 24,241 sightings logged across the year (8.5%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

T

By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

American Goshawk photographed in ColoradoFerruginous Hawk photographed in ColoradoRed-tailed Hawk photographed in Colorado
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for eagles in Colorado

8.5%

of yearly sightings

2,053

records in December

#5

busiest month of 12

24,241

verified records a year

November 6.6%, December 8.5%, January 10.1%. Busiest month is April at 11.8%.

Best months: April, May, January

24,241 verified observations of eagles in Colorado, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When eagles are recorded in Colorado

Peak month

April

2,850 records (11.8% of the year)

Quietest month

October

1,524 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak2,44110.1%
February1,8967.8%
March1,8467.6%
Aprilpeak2,85011.8%
Maypeak2,55910.6%
June1,7277.1%
July1,7987.4%
August2,0968.6%
September1,8547.6%
October1,5246.3%
November1,5976.6%
December2,0538.5%

Eagles you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Red-tailed Hawk9,648
Bald Eagle4,606
Cooper's Hawk2,720
Swainson's Hawk2,605
Golden Eagle1,086
Northern Harrier999
Ferruginous Hawk884
Sharp-shinned Hawk402

In Colorado, December carries 8.5% of the year's eagles sightings, about 0.2 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 (10.1%) after. The busiest month is April (11.8%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The eagles most often recorded in Colorado are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle 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 eagles you are most likely to see

  • Red-tailed Hawk9,648 records
  • Bald Eagle4,606 records
  • Cooper's Hawk2,720 records
  • Swainson's Hawk2,605 records
  • Golden Eagle1,086 records
  • Northern Harrier999 records
Plan your tripBent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Plan your eagle trip in Colorado

Start with live tours near Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see eagles in Colorado in December?+

Yes. December accounts for 2,053 of the 24,241 verified eagles sightings logged in Colorado across the year, which is 8.5% of the annual total.

Is December a good time to see eagles in Colorado?+

December is the 5th busiest month. It is workable, though April and May is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for eagles in Colorado?+

April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, May and January, based on 24,241 verified observations.

Which eagles are you most likely to see in Colorado?+

The most-recorded species in Colorado are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Cooper's Hawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.