Hawks in Indiana in December
Yes, December is a good month to see hawks in Indiana. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 644 of the 6,789 sightings logged across the year (9.5%), 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 Indiana
9.5%
of yearly sightings
644
records in December
#4
busiest month of 12
6,789
verified records a year
November 8.4%, December 9.5%, January 9.2%. Busiest month is April at 11%.
6,789 verified observations of hawks in Indiana, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When hawks are recorded in Indiana
Peak month
April
746 records (11% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 627 | 9.2% |
| February | 620 | 9.1% |
| Marchpeak | 655 | 9.6% |
| Aprilpeak | 746 | 11% |
| Maypeak | 666 | 9.8% |
| June | 355 | 5.2% |
| July | 430 | 6.3% |
| August | 464 | 6.8% |
| September | 511 | 7.5% |
| October | 498 | 7.3% |
| November | 573 | 8.4% |
| December | 644 | 9.5% |
Hawks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1,759 |
| Bald Eagle | 1,550 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 1,525 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1,154 |
| Northern Harrier | 161 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 153 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 116 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 64 |
In Indiana, December carries 9.5% of the year's hawks sightings, about 1.2 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 rising from November (8.4%) into December, and it heads toward January (9.2%) after. The busiest month is April (11%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
The hawks most often recorded in Indiana are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Red-shouldered 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 Hawk1,759 records
- Bald Eagle1,550 records
- Red-shouldered Hawk1,525 records
- Cooper's Hawk1,154 records
- Northern Harrier161 records
- Rough-legged Hawk153 records
Plan your hawk trip in Indiana
Start with live tours near Indiana Dunes National Park, 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 Indiana in December?+
Yes. December accounts for 644 of the 6,789 verified hawks sightings logged in Indiana across the year, which is 9.5% of the annual total.
Is December a good time to see hawks in Indiana?+
December is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though April and May is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
What month is best for hawks in Indiana?+
April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, May and March, based on 6,789 verified observations.
Which hawks are you most likely to see in Indiana?+
The most-recorded species in Indiana are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Red-shouldered Hawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See hawks in Indiana in other months
More places to see hawks
More wildlife in Indiana