Hawks in Idaho in December
Yes, December is a good month to see hawks in Idaho. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 934 of the 10,549 sightings logged across the year (8.9%), 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 Idaho
8.9%
of yearly sightings
934
records in December
#5
busiest month of 12
10,549
verified records a year
November 7%, December 8.9%, January 12%. Busiest month is January at 12%.
10,549 verified observations of hawks in Idaho, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When hawks are recorded in Idaho
Peak month
January
1,263 records (12% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 1,263 | 12% |
| February | 1,037 | 9.8% |
| Marchpeak | 1,148 | 10.9% |
| Aprilpeak | 1,210 | 11.5% |
| May | 839 | 8% |
| June | 682 | 6.5% |
| July | 730 | 6.9% |
| August | 632 | 6% |
| September | 776 | 7.4% |
| October | 558 | 5.3% |
| November | 740 | 7% |
| December | 934 | 8.9% |
Hawks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Red-tailed Hawk | 3,672 |
| Bald Eagle | 2,290 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 1,277 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 910 |
| Northern Harrier | 835 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 377 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 337 |
| Golden Eagle | 336 |
In Idaho, December carries 8.9% of the year's hawks sightings, about 0.6 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 (7%) into December, and it heads toward January (12%) after. The busiest month is January (12%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
The hawks most often recorded in Idaho are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Swainson'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 Hawk3,672 records
- Bald Eagle2,290 records
- Swainson's Hawk1,277 records
- Cooper's Hawk910 records
- Northern Harrier835 records
- Rough-legged Hawk377 records
Plan your hawk trip in Idaho
Start with live tours near City Of Rocks National Reserve, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
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Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main hawk viewing area.
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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see hawks in Idaho in December?+
Yes. December accounts for 934 of the 10,549 verified hawks sightings logged in Idaho across the year, which is 8.9% of the annual total.
Is December a good time to see hawks in Idaho?+
December is the 5th busiest month. It is workable, though January and April is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
What month is best for hawks in Idaho?+
January is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through January, April and March, based on 10,549 verified observations.
Which hawks are you most likely to see in Idaho?+
The most-recorded species in Idaho are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Swainson's Hawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See hawks in Idaho in other months
More places to see hawks
More wildlife in Idaho