Eagles in Minnesota in April

Yes, April is one of the best months to see eagles in Minnesota. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 2,394 of the 14,208 sightings logged across the year (16.8%), 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 July 2, 2026.

Cooper's Hawk photographed in MinnesotaCooper's Hawk photographed in MinnesotaCooper's Hawk photographed in Minnesota
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for eagles in Minnesota

16.8%

of yearly sightings

2,394

records in April

#1

busiest month of 12

14,208

verified records a year

March 10.8%, April 16.8%, May 10.8%. Busiest month is April at 16.8%.

Best months: April, March, May

14,208 verified observations of eagles in Minnesota, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When eagles are recorded in Minnesota

Peak month

April

2,394 records (16.8% of the year)

Quietest month

December

786 records

MonthObservationsShare
January8455.9%
February9616.8%
Marchpeak1,54110.8%
Aprilpeak2,39416.8%
Maypeak1,53610.8%
June8045.7%
July9496.7%
August1,0857.6%
September1,3399.4%
October1,1398%
November8295.8%
December7865.5%

Eagles you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Bald Eagle6,691
Red-tailed Hawk2,586
Cooper's Hawk1,387
Broad-winged Hawk1,235
Sharp-shinned Hawk539
Northern Harrier493
Rough-legged Hawk460
Red-shouldered Hawk292

In Minnesota, April carries 16.8% of the year's eagles sightings, about 8.5 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 March (10.8%) into April, and it heads toward May (10.8%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so April is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The eagles most often recorded in Minnesota are Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Cooper's Hawk. Those counts are annual totals rather than a April split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in April itself.

Which eagles you are most likely to see

  • Bald Eagle6,691 records
  • Red-tailed Hawk2,586 records
  • Cooper's Hawk1,387 records
  • Broad-winged Hawk1,235 records
  • Sharp-shinned Hawk539 records
  • Northern Harrier493 records
Plan your tripGrand Portage National Monument

Plan your eagle trip in Minnesota

Start with live tours near Grand Portage National Monument, 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 eagles in Minnesota in April?+

Yes. April accounts for 2,394 of the 14,208 verified eagles sightings logged in Minnesota across the year, which is 16.8% of the annual total.

Is April a good time to see eagles in Minnesota?+

April is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of April, March and May.

What month is best for eagles in Minnesota?+

April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, March and May, based on 14,208 verified observations.

Which eagles are you most likely to see in Minnesota?+

The most-recorded species in Minnesota are Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Cooper's Hawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.