Hawks in Indiana in May
Yes, May is one of the best months to see hawks in Indiana. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 666 of the 6,789 sightings logged across the year (9.8%), 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.
Peak month for hawks in Indiana
9.8%
of yearly sightings
666
records in May
#2
busiest month of 12
6,789
verified records a year
April 11%, May 9.8%, June 5.2%. 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, May carries 9.8% of the year's hawks sightings, about 1.5 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 2nd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is easing off from April (11%) into May, and it heads toward June (5.2%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so May is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
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 May split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in May 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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Live tours nearbySee live tours near Indiana Dunes National Park
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 Indiana in May?+
Yes. May accounts for 666 of the 6,789 verified hawks sightings logged in Indiana across the year, which is 9.8% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see hawks in Indiana?+
May is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of April, May and March.
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