Hawks in Illinois in December
Yes, December is a good month to see hawks in Illinois. It is the 7th busiest month of the year, with 1,728 of the 20,013 sightings logged across the year (8.6%), 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 July 2, 2026.
Good month for hawks in Illinois
8.6%
of yearly sightings
1,728
records in December
#7
busiest month of 12
20,013
verified records a year
November 9.3%, December 8.6%, January 11.2%. Busiest month is January at 11.2%.
20,013 verified observations of hawks in Illinois, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When hawks are recorded in Illinois
Peak month
January
2,240 records (11.2% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 2,240 | 11.2% |
| Februarypeak | 2,167 | 10.8% |
| Marchpeak | 2,162 | 10.8% |
| April | 2,052 | 10.3% |
| May | 1,473 | 7.4% |
| June | 795 | 4% |
| July | 864 | 4.3% |
| August | 1,286 | 6.4% |
| September | 1,563 | 7.8% |
| October | 1,826 | 9.1% |
| November | 1,857 | 9.3% |
| December | 1,728 | 8.6% |
Hawks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Red-tailed Hawk | 7,686 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 4,549 |
| Bald Eagle | 4,364 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 1,190 |
| Northern Harrier | 652 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 377 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 309 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 288 |
In Illinois, December carries 8.6% of the year's hawks sightings, about 0.3 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 7th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity holds steady between November and December, and it heads toward January (11.2%) after. The busiest month is January (11.2%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
The hawks most often recorded in Illinois are Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk and Bald Eagle. 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 Hawk7,686 records
- Cooper's Hawk4,549 records
- Bald Eagle4,364 records
- Red-shouldered Hawk1,190 records
- Northern Harrier652 records
- Broad-winged Hawk377 records
Plan your hawk trip in Illinois
Start with live tours near Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
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Live tours nearbySee live tours near Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
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 Illinois in December?+
Yes. December accounts for 1,728 of the 20,013 verified hawks sightings logged in Illinois across the year, which is 8.6% of the annual total.
Is December a good time to see hawks in Illinois?+
December is the 7th busiest month. It is workable, though January and February is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
What month is best for hawks in Illinois?+
January is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through January, February and March, based on 20,013 verified observations.
Which hawks are you most likely to see in Illinois?+
The most-recorded species in Illinois are Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk and Bald Eagle, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See hawks in Illinois in other months
More places to see hawks
More wildlife in Illinois