Hawks in Michigan in January
Yes, January is a good month to see hawks in Michigan. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 967 of the 11,764 sightings logged across the year (8.2%), 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.
Good month for hawks in Michigan
8.2%
of yearly sightings
967
records in January
#5
busiest month of 12
11,764
verified records a year
December 7.8%, January 8.2%, February 8%. Busiest month is April at 12.7%.
11,764 verified observations of hawks in Michigan, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When hawks are recorded in Michigan
Peak month
April
1,497 records (12.7% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 967 | 8.2% |
| February | 939 | 8% |
| March | 998 | 8.5% |
| Aprilpeak | 1,497 | 12.7% |
| Maypeak | 1,310 | 11.1% |
| June | 787 | 6.7% |
| July | 786 | 6.7% |
| Augustpeak | 1,006 | 8.6% |
| September | 884 | 7.5% |
| October | 813 | 6.9% |
| November | 863 | 7.3% |
| December | 914 | 7.8% |
Hawks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Bald Eagle | 3,693 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 3,572 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1,716 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 555 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 498 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 434 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 408 |
| Northern Harrier | 354 |
In Michigan, January carries 8.2% of the year's hawks sightings, about 0.1 points below an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 5th 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%) after. The busiest month is April (12.7%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
The hawks most often recorded in Michigan are Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Cooper's 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 Eagle3,693 records
- Red-tailed Hawk3,572 records
- Cooper's Hawk1,716 records
- Broad-winged Hawk555 records
- Red-shouldered Hawk498 records
- Rough-legged Hawk434 records
Plan your hawk trip in Michigan
Start with live tours near Isle Royale National Park, 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 Michigan in January?+
Yes. January accounts for 967 of the 11,764 verified hawks sightings logged in Michigan across the year, which is 8.2% of the annual total.
Is January a good time to see hawks in Michigan?+
January is the 5th busiest month. It is workable, though April and May is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
What month is best for hawks in Michigan?+
April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, May and August, based on 11,764 verified observations.
Which hawks are you most likely to see in Michigan?+
The most-recorded species in Michigan are Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Cooper's Hawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See hawks in Michigan in other months
More places to see hawks
More wildlife in Michigan