Eagles in Missouri in January

Yes, January is one of the best months to see eagles in Missouri. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 798 of the 7,840 sightings logged across the year (10.2%), 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.

Northern Harrier photographed in MissouriRough-legged Hawk photographed in MissouriBald Eagle photographed in Missouri
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for eagles in Missouri

10.2%

of yearly sightings

798

records in January

#2

busiest month of 12

7,840

verified records a year

December 10.6%, January 10.2%, February 9.9%. Busiest month is December at 10.6%.

Best months: December, January, February

7,840 verified observations of eagles in Missouri, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When eagles are recorded in Missouri

Peak month

December

830 records (10.6% of the year)

Quietest month

October

479 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak79810.2%
Februarypeak7759.9%
March6958.9%
April7489.5%
May7319.3%
June5086.5%
July4806.1%
August5627.2%
September5116.5%
October4796.1%
November7239.2%
Decemberpeak83010.6%

Eagles you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Red-tailed Hawk2,218
Bald Eagle1,836
Red-shouldered Hawk1,660
Cooper's Hawk781
Mississippi Kite421
Northern Harrier274
Broad-winged Hawk179
Sharp-shinned Hawk114

In Missouri, January carries 10.2% of the year's eagles sightings, about 1.9 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 (9.9%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so January is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The eagles most often recorded in Missouri are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Red-shouldered 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 eagles you are most likely to see

  • Red-tailed Hawk2,218 records
  • Bald Eagle1,836 records
  • Red-shouldered Hawk1,660 records
  • Cooper's Hawk781 records
  • Mississippi Kite421 records
  • Northern Harrier274 records
Plan your tripGeorge Washington Carver National Monument

Plan your eagle trip in Missouri

Start with live tours near George Washington Carver 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 Missouri in January?+

Yes. January accounts for 798 of the 7,840 verified eagles sightings logged in Missouri across the year, which is 10.2% of the annual total.

Is January a good time to see eagles in Missouri?+

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

What month is best for eagles in Missouri?+

December is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through December, January and February, based on 7,840 verified observations.

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

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