Hawks in Kentucky in December
Yes, December is one of the best months to see hawks in Kentucky. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 384 of the 3,610 sightings logged across the year (10.6%), 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 Kentucky
10.6%
of yearly sightings
384
records in December
#1
busiest month of 12
3,610
verified records a year
November 9.7%, December 10.6%, January 10.1%. Busiest month is December at 10.6%.
3,610 verified observations of hawks in Kentucky, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When hawks are recorded in Kentucky
Peak month
December
384 records (10.6% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 363 | 10.1% |
| February | 337 | 9.3% |
| March | 336 | 9.3% |
| Aprilpeak | 355 | 9.8% |
| May | 272 | 7.5% |
| June | 244 | 6.8% |
| July | 234 | 6.5% |
| August | 255 | 7.1% |
| September | 230 | 6.4% |
| October | 249 | 6.9% |
| November | 351 | 9.7% |
| Decemberpeak | 384 | 10.6% |
Hawks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1,038 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 881 |
| Bald Eagle | 645 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 556 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 162 |
| Northern Harrier | 92 |
| Mississippi Kite | 86 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 45 |
In Kentucky, December carries 10.6% of the year's hawks sightings, about 2.3 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 1st busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity holds steady between November and December, and it heads toward January (10.1%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so December is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The hawks most often recorded in Kentucky are Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk and Bald Eagle. 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 hawks you are most likely to see
- Red-tailed Hawk1,038 records
- Red-shouldered Hawk881 records
- Bald Eagle645 records
- Cooper's Hawk556 records
- Broad-winged Hawk162 records
- Northern Harrier92 records
Plan your hawk trip in Kentucky
Start with live tours near Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
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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 Kentucky in December?+
Yes. December accounts for 384 of the 3,610 verified hawks sightings logged in Kentucky across the year, which is 10.6% of the annual total.
Is December a good time to see hawks in Kentucky?+
December is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of December, January and April.
What month is best for hawks in Kentucky?+
December is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through December, January and April, based on 3,610 verified observations.
Which hawks are you most likely to see in Kentucky?+
The most-recorded species in Kentucky are Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk and Bald Eagle, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See hawks in Kentucky in other months
More places to see hawks
More wildlife in Kentucky