Hawks in Colorado in January
Yes, January is one of the best months to see hawks in Colorado. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 2,441 of the 24,175 sightings logged across the year (10.1%), 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 Colorado
10.1%
of yearly sightings
2,441
records in January
#3
busiest month of 12
24,175
verified records a year
December 8.5%, January 10.1%, February 7.8%. 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, January carries 10.1% of the year's hawks sightings, about 1.8 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is rising from December (8.5%) into January, and it heads toward February (7.8%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so January is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
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 January split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in January 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 January?+
Yes. January accounts for 2,441 of the 24,175 verified hawks sightings logged in Colorado across the year, which is 10.1% of the annual total.
Is January a good time to see hawks in Colorado?+
January is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of April, May and January.
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