Hawks in Missouri in December
Yes, December is one of the best months to see hawks in Missouri. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 830 of the 7,828 sightings logged across the year (10.6%), 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 Missouri
10.6%
of yearly sightings
830
records in December
#1
busiest month of 12
7,828
verified records a year
November 9.2%, December 10.6%, January 10.2%. Busiest month is December at 10.6%.
7,828 verified observations of hawks in Missouri, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When hawks are recorded in Missouri
Peak month
December
830 records (10.6% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 798 | 10.2% |
| Februarypeak | 775 | 9.9% |
| March | 695 | 8.9% |
| April | 748 | 9.6% |
| May | 731 | 9.3% |
| June | 496 | 6.3% |
| July | 480 | 6.1% |
| August | 562 | 7.2% |
| September | 511 | 6.5% |
| October | 479 | 6.1% |
| November | 723 | 9.2% |
| Decemberpeak | 830 | 10.6% |
Hawks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2,217 |
| Bald Eagle | 1,834 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 1,656 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 780 |
| Mississippi Kite | 418 |
| Northern Harrier | 274 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 179 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 114 |
In Missouri, December carries 10.6% of the year's hawks sightings, about 2.3 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 November (9.2%) into December, and it heads toward January (10.2%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so December is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The hawks most often recorded in Missouri are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Red-shouldered Hawk. Those counts are annual totals rather than a December split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in December itself.
Which hawks you are most likely to see
- Red-tailed Hawk2,217 records
- Bald Eagle1,834 records
- Red-shouldered Hawk1,656 records
- Cooper's Hawk780 records
- Mississippi Kite418 records
- Northern Harrier274 records
Plan your hawk 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.
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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see hawks in Missouri in December?+
Yes. December accounts for 830 of the 7,828 verified hawks sightings logged in Missouri across the year, which is 10.6% of the annual total.
Is December a good time to see hawks in Missouri?+
December is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of December, January and February.
What month is best for hawks in Missouri?+
December is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through December, January and February, based on 7,828 verified observations.
Which hawks 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.
See hawks in Missouri in other months
More places to see hawks
More wildlife in Missouri