Hawks in Maryland in January
Yes, January is one of the best months to see hawks in Maryland. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 2,955 of the 24,176 sightings logged across the year (12.2%), 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 Maryland
12.2%
of yearly sightings
2,955
records in January
#1
busiest month of 12
24,176
verified records a year
December 10.2%, January 12.2%, February 10.9%. Busiest month is January at 12.2%.
24,176 verified observations of hawks in Maryland, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When hawks are recorded in Maryland
Peak month
January
2,955 records (12.2% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 2,955 | 12.2% |
| Februarypeak | 2,627 | 10.9% |
| Marchpeak | 2,570 | 10.6% |
| April | 2,480 | 10.3% |
| May | 1,685 | 7% |
| June | 1,075 | 4.4% |
| July | 905 | 3.7% |
| August | 1,133 | 4.7% |
| September | 1,849 | 7.6% |
| October | 2,120 | 8.8% |
| November | 2,306 | 9.5% |
| December | 2,471 | 10.2% |
Hawks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Bald Eagle | 8,352 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 6,533 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 3,597 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 2,888 |
| Northern Harrier | 750 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 639 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 601 |
| Mississippi Kite | 184 |
In Maryland, January carries 12.2% of the year's hawks sightings, about 3.9 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 is rising from December (10.2%) into January, and it heads toward February (10.9%) 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 Maryland are Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk and Red-tailed 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 Eagle8,352 records
- Red-shouldered Hawk6,533 records
- Red-tailed Hawk3,597 records
- Cooper's Hawk2,888 records
- Northern Harrier750 records
- Sharp-shinned Hawk639 records
Plan your hawk trip in Maryland
Start with live tours near Antietam National Battlefield, 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 Maryland in January?+
Yes. January accounts for 2,955 of the 24,176 verified hawks sightings logged in Maryland across the year, which is 12.2% of the annual total.
Is January a good time to see hawks in Maryland?+
January is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of January, February and March.
What month is best for hawks in Maryland?+
January is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through January, February and March, based on 24,176 verified observations.
Which hawks are you most likely to see in Maryland?+
The most-recorded species in Maryland are Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk and Red-tailed Hawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See hawks in Maryland in other months
More places to see hawks
More wildlife in Maryland