Hawks in Iowa in January
Yes, January is one of the best months to see hawks in Iowa. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 373 of the 3,398 sightings logged across the year (11%), 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 hawks in Iowa
11%
of yearly sightings
373
records in January
#2
busiest month of 12
3,398
verified records a year
December 10.8%, January 11%, February 10.6%. Busiest month is March at 12.9%.
3,398 verified observations of hawks in Iowa, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When hawks are recorded in Iowa
Peak month
March
437 records (12.9% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 373 | 11% |
| February | 361 | 10.6% |
| Marchpeak | 437 | 12.9% |
| April | 339 | 10% |
| May | 223 | 6.6% |
| June | 147 | 4.3% |
| July | 186 | 5.5% |
| August | 202 | 5.9% |
| September | 228 | 6.7% |
| October | 263 | 7.7% |
| November | 271 | 8% |
| Decemberpeak | 368 | 10.8% |
Hawks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Bald Eagle | 1,365 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 985 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 460 |
| Northern Harrier | 117 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 97 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 96 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 73 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 52 |
In Iowa, January carries 11% of the year's hawks sightings, about 2.7 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 holds steady between December and January, and it heads toward February (10.6%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so January is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The hawks most often recorded in Iowa are Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Cooper's Hawk. Those counts are annual totals rather than a January split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in January itself.
Which hawks you are most likely to see
- Bald Eagle1,365 records
- Red-tailed Hawk985 records
- Cooper's Hawk460 records
- Northern Harrier117 records
- Rough-legged Hawk97 records
- Broad-winged Hawk96 records
Plan your hawk 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.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Effigy Mounds National Monument
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main hawk viewing area.
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Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see hawks in Iowa in January?+
Yes. January accounts for 373 of the 3,398 verified hawks sightings logged in Iowa across the year, which is 11% of the annual total.
Is January a good time to see hawks in Iowa?+
January is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of March, January and December.
What month is best for hawks in Iowa?+
March is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through March, January and December, based on 3,398 verified observations.
Which hawks 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 hawks in Iowa in other months
More places to see hawks
More wildlife in Iowa