Hawks in Colorado in December
Yes, December is a good month to see hawks in Colorado. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 2,053 of the 24,175 sightings logged across the year (8.5%), 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.
Good month for hawks in Colorado
8.5%
of yearly sightings
2,053
records in December
#5
busiest month of 12
24,175
verified records a year
November 6.6%, December 8.5%, January 10.1%. Busiest month is April at 11.8%.
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 |
In Colorado, December carries 8.5% of the year's hawks 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 hawks 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 hawks you are most likely to see
- Red-tailed Hawk9,617 records
- Bald Eagle4,599 records
- Cooper's Hawk2,710 records
- Swainson's Hawk2,592 records
- Golden Eagle1,085 records
- Northern Harrier999 records
Plan your hawk 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.
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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see hawks in Colorado in December?+
Yes. December accounts for 2,053 of the 24,175 verified hawks sightings logged in Colorado across the year, which is 8.5% of the annual total.
Is December a good time to see hawks 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 hawks in Colorado?+
April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, May and January, based on 24,175 verified observations.
Which hawks 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.
See hawks in Colorado in other months
More places to see hawks
More wildlife in Colorado