Hawks in Massachusetts in January
Yes, January is one of the best months to see hawks in Massachusetts. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 1,905 of the 20,697 sightings logged across the year (9.2%), 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 Massachusetts
9.2%
of yearly sightings
1,905
records in January
#3
busiest month of 12
20,697
verified records a year
December 8.5%, January 9.2%, February 8.7%. Busiest month is April at 11.8%.
20,697 verified observations of hawks in Massachusetts, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When hawks are recorded in Massachusetts
Peak month
April
2,444 records (11.8% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 1,905 | 9.2% |
| February | 1,797 | 8.7% |
| Marchpeak | 2,103 | 10.2% |
| Aprilpeak | 2,444 | 11.8% |
| May | 1,868 | 9% |
| June | 1,161 | 5.6% |
| July | 1,155 | 5.6% |
| August | 1,482 | 7.2% |
| September | 1,554 | 7.5% |
| October | 1,785 | 8.6% |
| November | 1,676 | 8.1% |
| December | 1,767 | 8.5% |
Hawks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Red-tailed Hawk | 9,907 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 3,596 |
| Bald Eagle | 2,618 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 1,286 |
| Northern Harrier | 1,138 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 676 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 508 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 100 |
In Massachusetts, January carries 9.2% of the year's hawks sightings, about 0.9 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity holds steady between December and January, and it heads toward February (8.7%) 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 Massachusetts are Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk 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 Hawk9,907 records
- Cooper's Hawk3,596 records
- Bald Eagle2,618 records
- Red-shouldered Hawk1,286 records
- Northern Harrier1,138 records
- Broad-winged Hawk676 records
Plan your hawk trip in Massachusetts
Start with live tours near Appalachian National Scenic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see hawks in Massachusetts in January?+
Yes. January accounts for 1,905 of the 20,697 verified hawks sightings logged in Massachusetts across the year, which is 9.2% of the annual total.
Is January a good time to see hawks in Massachusetts?+
January is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of April, March and January.
What month is best for hawks in Massachusetts?+
April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, March and January, based on 20,697 verified observations.
Which hawks are you most likely to see in Massachusetts?+
The most-recorded species in Massachusetts are Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk and Bald Eagle, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See hawks in Massachusetts in other months
More places to see hawks
More wildlife in Massachusetts