11 Types of Eagles in Iowa
11 types of eagles from the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae) have a verified observation record in Iowa. The most frequently recorded are Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Cooper's Hawk. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
Quick Answer
11 types of eagles from the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae) have a verified observation record in Iowa. The most frequently recorded are Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Cooper's Hawk. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
More Pages
More eagle pages for Iowa
Jump back to the main page for this route cluster.
Verified species, source iNaturalist
11 types of eagles recorded in Iowa
11 eagles species have a verified observation record in Iowa across the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae), each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
| # | Species | Scientific name | Verified records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | 1,366 |
| 2 | Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | 983 |
| 3 | Cooper's Hawk | Astur cooperii | 460 |
| 4 | Northern Harrier | Circus hudsonius | 117 |
| 5 | Rough-legged Hawk | Buteo lagopus | 98 |
| 6 | Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | 96 |
| 7 | Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | 73 |
| 8 | Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | 52 |
| 9 | Mississippi Kite | Ictinia mississippiensis | 20 |
| 10 | Swainson's Hawk | Buteo swainsoni | 14 |
| 11 | Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | 13 |
Plus 4 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
Gear and field guides
The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is the most commonly recorded, with 1,366 verified observations — about 41% of all eagles reported in Iowa. If you spot a eagle here, it is statistically most likely to be this one.
Iowa also hosts less common eagles such as Rough-legged Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk, each recorded fewer than 100 times. These are the species worth a second look when you are out, since a sighting is more notable.