Hawks in Louisiana in January

Yes, January is one of the best months to see hawks in Louisiana. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 743 of the 6,937 sightings logged across the year (10.7%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Mississippi Kite photographed in LouisianaRed-shouldered Hawk photographed in LouisianaRed-shouldered Hawk photographed in Louisiana
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for hawks in Louisiana

10.7%

of yearly sightings

743

records in January

#2

busiest month of 12

6,937

verified records a year

December 10%, January 10.7%, February 9%. Busiest month is April at 14.5%.

Best months: April, January, May

6,937 verified observations of hawks in Louisiana, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When hawks are recorded in Louisiana

Peak month

April

1,006 records (14.5% of the year)

Quietest month

September

227 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak74310.7%
February6249%
March5578%
Aprilpeak1,00614.5%
Maypeak71310.3%
June4646.7%
July3795.5%
August3725.4%
September2273.3%
October4847%
November6779.8%
December69110%

Hawks you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Red-tailed Hawk1,342
Mississippi Kite1,300
Bald Eagle1,204
Red-shouldered Hawk1,155
Cooper's Hawk653
Broad-winged Hawk328
Northern Harrier324
Swallow-tailed Kite259

In Louisiana, January carries 10.7% of the year's hawks sightings, about 2.4 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 (9%) 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 Louisiana are Red-tailed Hawk, Mississippi Kite and Bald Eagle. 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 Hawk1,342 records
  • Mississippi Kite1,300 records
  • Bald Eagle1,204 records
  • Red-shouldered Hawk1,155 records
  • Cooper's Hawk653 records
  • Broad-winged Hawk328 records
Plan your tripJean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

Plan your hawk trip in Louisiana

Start with live tours near Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, 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 Louisiana in January?+

Yes. January accounts for 743 of the 6,937 verified hawks sightings logged in Louisiana across the year, which is 10.7% of the annual total.

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

January is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of April, January and May.

What month is best for hawks in Louisiana?+

April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, January and May, based on 6,937 verified observations.

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

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