Hawks in Kansas in January

Yes, January is a good month to see hawks in Kansas. It is the 6th busiest month of the year, with 425 of the 4,545 sightings logged across the year (9.4%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

T

By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 2, 2026.

Mississippi Kite photographed in KansasSharp-shinned Hawk photographed in KansasBroad-winged Hawk photographed in Kansas
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for hawks in Kansas

9.4%

of yearly sightings

425

records in January

#6

busiest month of 12

4,545

verified records a year

December 10.1%, January 9.4%, February 10.1%. Busiest month is May at 11.3%.

Best months: May, February, December

4,545 verified observations of hawks in Kansas, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When hawks are recorded in Kansas

Peak month

May

512 records (11.3% of the year)

Quietest month

September

259 records

MonthObservationsShare
January4259.4%
Februarypeak45910.1%
March3748.2%
April4459.8%
Maypeak51211.3%
June2866.3%
July3076.8%
August2776.1%
September2595.7%
October3116.8%
November4329.5%
Decemberpeak45810.1%

Hawks you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Red-tailed Hawk1,424
Bald Eagle903
Red-shouldered Hawk553
Mississippi Kite489
Cooper's Hawk377
Northern Harrier269
Swainson's Hawk180
Sharp-shinned Hawk89

In Kansas, January carries 9.4% of the year's hawks sightings, about 1.1 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 6th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity holds steady between December and January, and it heads toward February (10.1%) after. The busiest month is May (11.3%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The hawks most often recorded in Kansas are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Red-shouldered 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

  • Red-tailed Hawk1,424 records
  • Bald Eagle903 records
  • Red-shouldered Hawk553 records
  • Mississippi Kite489 records
  • Cooper's Hawk377 records
  • Northern Harrier269 records
Plan your tripLewis & Clark National Historic Trail

Plan your hawk trip in Kansas

Start with live tours near Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see hawks in Kansas in January?+

Yes. January accounts for 425 of the 4,545 verified hawks sightings logged in Kansas across the year, which is 9.4% of the annual total.

Is January a good time to see hawks in Kansas?+

January is the 6th busiest month. It is workable, though May and February is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for hawks in Kansas?+

May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, February and December, based on 4,545 verified observations.

Which hawks are you most likely to see in Kansas?+

The most-recorded species in Kansas are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Red-shouldered Hawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.