13 Types of Eagles in Louisiana
13 types of eagles from the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae) have a verified observation record in Louisiana. The most frequently recorded are Red-tailed Hawk, Mississippi Kite and Bald Eagle. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
Quick Answer
13 types of eagles from the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae) have a verified observation record in Louisiana. The most frequently recorded are Red-tailed Hawk, Mississippi Kite and Bald Eagle. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
6,919 verified observations on iNaturalist of eagle have been recorded in Louisiana, most often in April, January, May.
| Species recorded in Louisiana | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1,342 |
| Mississippi Kite | 1,292 |
| Bald Eagle | 1,203 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 1,154 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 648 |
Verified species, source iNaturalist
13 types of eagles recorded in Louisiana
13 eagles species have a verified observation record in Louisiana 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 | Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | 1,342 |
| 2 | Mississippi Kite | Ictinia mississippiensis | 1,300 |
| 3 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | 1,203 |
| 4 | Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | 1,154 |
| 5 | Cooper's Hawk | Astur cooperii | 651 |
| 6 | Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | 328 |
| 7 | Northern Harrier | Circus hudsonius | 324 |
| 8 | Swallow-tailed Kite | Elanoides forficatus | 259 |
| 9 | Swainson's Hawk | Buteo swainsoni | 85 |
| 10 | Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | 80 |
| 11 | White-tailed Kite | Elanus leucurus | 52 |
| 12 | White-tailed Hawk | Geranoaetus albicaudatus | 21 |
| 13 | Ferruginous Hawk | Buteo regalis | 12 |
Plus 2 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
Gear and field guides
The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is the most commonly recorded, with 1,342 verified observations — about 20% of all eagles reported in Louisiana. If you spot a eagle here, it is statistically most likely to be this one.
Louisiana also hosts less common eagles such as Swainson's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk and White-tailed Kite, each recorded fewer than 100 times. These are the species worth a second look when you are out, since a sighting is more notable.