Hawks in Florida in April

Yes, April is a good month to see hawks in Florida. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 6,459 of the 61,118 sightings logged across the year (10.6%), 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.

Good month for hawks in Florida

10.6%

of yearly sightings

6,459

records in April

#4

busiest month of 12

61,118

verified records a year

March 11.8%, April 10.6%, May 8.3%. Busiest month is January at 12%.

Best months: January, March, December

61,118 verified observations of hawks in Florida, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When hawks are recorded in Florida

Peak month

January

7,357 records (12% of the year)

Quietest month

August

2,401 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak7,35712%
February6,19710.1%
Marchpeak7,23311.8%
April6,45910.6%
May5,0908.3%
June3,7526.1%
July2,7864.6%
August2,4013.9%
September2,9364.8%
October4,7807.8%
November5,6189.2%
Decemberpeak6,50910.6%

Hawks you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Red-shouldered Hawk28,235
Bald Eagle10,174
Swallow-tailed Kite6,375
Cooper's Hawk3,393
Red-tailed Hawk3,334
Snail Kite2,752
Northern Harrier1,953
Short-tailed Hawk1,815

In Florida, April carries 10.6% of the year's hawks sightings, about 2.3 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 4th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from March (11.8%) into April, and it heads toward May (8.3%) after. The busiest month is January (12%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The hawks most often recorded in Florida are Red-shouldered Hawk, Bald Eagle and Swallow-tailed Kite. Those counts are annual totals rather than a April split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in April itself.

Which hawks you are most likely to see

  • Red-shouldered Hawk28,235 records
  • Bald Eagle10,174 records
  • Swallow-tailed Kite6,375 records
  • Cooper's Hawk3,393 records
  • Red-tailed Hawk3,334 records
  • Snail Kite2,752 records
Plan your tripBig Cypress National Preserve

Plan your hawk trip in Florida

Start with live tours near Big Cypress National Preserve, 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 hawks in Florida in April?+

Yes. April accounts for 6,459 of the 61,118 verified hawks sightings logged in Florida across the year, which is 10.6% of the annual total.

Is April a good time to see hawks in Florida?+

April is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though January and March is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for hawks in Florida?+

January is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through January, March and December, based on 61,118 verified observations.

Which hawks are you most likely to see in Florida?+

The most-recorded species in Florida are Red-shouldered Hawk, Bald Eagle and Swallow-tailed Kite, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.