Eagles in Iowa in December
Yes, December is one of the best months to see eagles in Iowa. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 368 of the 3,400 sightings logged across the year (10.8%), 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 June 28, 2026.
Peak month for eagles in Iowa
10.8%
of yearly sightings
368
records in December
#3
busiest month of 12
3,400
verified records a year
November 8%, December 10.8%, January 11%. Busiest month is March at 12.9%.
3,400 verified observations of eagles in Iowa, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When eagles are recorded in Iowa
Peak month
March
438 records (12.9% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 373 | 11% |
| February | 361 | 10.6% |
| Marchpeak | 438 | 12.9% |
| April | 339 | 10% |
| May | 223 | 6.6% |
| June | 148 | 4.4% |
| July | 185 | 5.4% |
| August | 202 | 5.9% |
| September | 228 | 6.7% |
| October | 263 | 7.7% |
| November | 272 | 8% |
| Decemberpeak | 368 | 10.8% |
Eagles you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Bald Eagle | 1,366 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 984 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 460 |
| Northern Harrier | 117 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 98 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 96 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 73 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 52 |
In Iowa, December carries 10.8% of the year's eagles sightings, about 2.5 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is rising from November (8%) into December, and it heads toward January (11%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so December is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The eagles most often recorded in Iowa are Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Cooper'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 eagles you are most likely to see
- Bald Eagle1,366 records
- Red-tailed Hawk984 records
- Cooper's Hawk460 records
- Northern Harrier117 records
- Rough-legged Hawk98 records
- Broad-winged Hawk96 records
Plan your eagle trip in Iowa
Start with live tours near Effigy Mounds National Monument, 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 eagles in Iowa in December?+
Yes. December accounts for 368 of the 3,400 verified eagles sightings logged in Iowa across the year, which is 10.8% of the annual total.
Is December a good time to see eagles in Iowa?+
December is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of March, January and December.
What month is best for eagles in Iowa?+
March is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through March, January and December, based on 3,400 verified observations.
Which eagles are you most likely to see in Iowa?+
The most-recorded species in Iowa are Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Cooper's Hawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See eagles in Iowa in other months
More wildlife in Iowa