Hawks in Florida in December
Yes, December is one of the best months to see hawks in Florida. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 6,509 of the 61,118 sightings logged across the year (10.6%), 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 Florida
10.6%
of yearly sightings
6,509
records in December
#3
busiest month of 12
61,118
verified records a year
November 9.2%, December 10.6%, January 12%. Busiest month is January at 12%.
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)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 7,357 | 12% |
| February | 6,197 | 10.1% |
| Marchpeak | 7,233 | 11.8% |
| April | 6,459 | 10.6% |
| May | 5,090 | 8.3% |
| June | 3,752 | 6.1% |
| July | 2,786 | 4.6% |
| August | 2,401 | 3.9% |
| September | 2,936 | 4.8% |
| October | 4,780 | 7.8% |
| November | 5,618 | 9.2% |
| Decemberpeak | 6,509 | 10.6% |
Hawks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 28,235 |
| Bald Eagle | 10,174 |
| Swallow-tailed Kite | 6,375 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 3,393 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 3,334 |
| Snail Kite | 2,752 |
| Northern Harrier | 1,953 |
| Short-tailed Hawk | 1,815 |
In Florida, December carries 10.6% of the year's hawks sightings, about 2.3 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 November (9.2%) into December, and it heads toward January (12%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so December is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
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 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-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 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.
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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see hawks in Florida in December?+
Yes. December accounts for 6,509 of the 61,118 verified hawks sightings logged in Florida across the year, which is 10.6% of the annual total.
Is December a good time to see hawks in Florida?+
December is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of January, March and December.
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.
See hawks in Florida in other months
More places to see hawks
More wildlife in Florida