Best Time to See Hawks in Colorado
April, May and January is the best time to see hawks in Colorado. Based on 24,175 verified iNaturalist observations, here is exactly when hawks are most active across the year in Colorado.
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 · psweet CC BY-SA
Red-tailed Hawk · Public domain CC0
Red-tailed Hawk · jakeschneider00 CC BY-SA
24,175 verified observations of hawks in Colorado, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When hawks are recorded in Colorado
Peak month
April
2,850 records (11.8% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 2,441 | 10.1% |
| February | 1,896 | 7.8% |
| March | 1,846 | 7.6% |
| Aprilpeak | 2,850 | 11.8% |
| Maypeak | 2,555 | 10.6% |
| June | 1,681 | 7% |
| July | 1,783 | 7.4% |
| August | 2,096 | 8.7% |
| September | 1,853 | 7.7% |
| October | 1,524 | 6.3% |
| November | 1,597 | 6.6% |
| December | 2,053 | 8.5% |
Hawks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Red-tailed Hawk | 9,617 |
| Bald Eagle | 4,599 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 2,710 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 2,592 |
| Golden Eagle | 1,085 |
| Northern Harrier | 999 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 884 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 401 |
Weather to expect, source Open-Meteo
Typical weather in Colorado
Recent typical conditions by month, so you can plan a trip around both when hawks are active and what the weather is doing. The best months to look for hawks sit around 5 to 57 degrees Fahrenheit, so pack for that.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janbest time | 27°F | 5°F | 0.5" |
| Feb | 27°F | 3°F | 0.9" |
| Mar | 34°F | 9°F | 1.3" |
| Aprbest time | 46°F | 20°F | 1.1" |
| Maybest time | 57°F | 31°F | 2.5" |
| Jun | 69°F | 42°F | 2.1" |
| Jul | 76°F | 49°F | 2.5" |
| Aug | 75°F | 48°F | 1.7" |
| Sep | 69°F | 41°F | 1.1" |
| Oct | 54°F | 27°F | 0.8" |
| Nov | 40°F | 18°F | 0.6" |
| Dec | 30°F | 10°F | 0.9" |
Typical recent conditions (5-year means) from the Open-Meteo archive, averaged for Colorado. Weather varies year to year, so treat these as a guide.
More on hawks in Colorado:
Sightings of hawks in Colorado peak in April, when 2,850 of the year's 24,175 verified observations are logged — about 11.8% of the annual total. Activity stays high through April, May and January.
The quietest stretch is October, November and June, when hawks are hardest to find — October sees just 1,524 records. If a reliable sighting matters, plan around the peak window rather than the off-season.
The hawks you are most likely to encounter in Colorado are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Cooper's Hawk — the most-recorded species in the state. Each keeps its own seasonal rhythm, but the month-by-month pattern above reflects every reported sighting together.
Where to go
Best places to see hawks in Colorado
- Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site — National Historic Site
- Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park — National Park
- Colorado National Monument — National Monument
- Curecanti National Recreation Area — National Recreation Area
- Dinosaur National Monument — National Monument
- Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve — National Park & Preserve
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to see hawks in Colorado?+
April is the single best month, and the broader peak window runs through April, May and January, based on 24,175 verified iNaturalist observations.
When are hawks hardest to see in Colorado?+
October is the quietest month for hawks in Colorado, with only 1,524 verified records.
Are hawks active year-round in Colorado?+
Hawks are recorded in 12 of 12 months in Colorado, so they can be seen year-round, with a clear peak in April.
More places to see hawks
More wildlife in Colorado