Hawks in Idaho in February

Yes, February is a good month to see hawks in Idaho. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 1,037 of the 10,549 sightings logged across the year (9.8%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Bald Eagle photographed in IdahoSharp-shinned Hawk photographed in IdahoBald Eagle photographed in Idaho
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for hawks in Idaho

9.8%

of yearly sightings

1,037

records in February

#4

busiest month of 12

10,549

verified records a year

January 12%, February 9.8%, March 10.9%. Busiest month is January at 12%.

Best months: January, April, March

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)

Quietest month

October

558 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak1,26312%
February1,0379.8%
Marchpeak1,14810.9%
Aprilpeak1,21011.5%
May8398%
June6826.5%
July7306.9%
August6326%
September7767.4%
October5585.3%
November7407%
December9348.9%

Hawks you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Red-tailed Hawk3,672
Bald Eagle2,290
Swainson's Hawk1,277
Cooper's Hawk910
Northern Harrier835
Rough-legged Hawk377
Sharp-shinned Hawk337
Golden Eagle336

In Idaho, February carries 9.8% of the year's hawks sightings, about 1.5 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 January (12%) into February, and it heads toward March (10.9%) 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 February split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in February 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 tripCity Of Rocks National Reserve

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.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see hawks in Idaho in February?+

Yes. February accounts for 1,037 of the 10,549 verified hawks sightings logged in Idaho across the year, which is 9.8% of the annual total.

Is February a good time to see hawks in Idaho?+

February is the 4th 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.