Hawks in Missouri in November

Yes, November is a good month to see hawks in Missouri. It is the 6th busiest month of the year, with 723 of the 7,828 sightings logged across the year (9.2%), 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.

Good month for hawks in Missouri

9.2%

of yearly sightings

723

records in November

#6

busiest month of 12

7,828

verified records a year

October 6.1%, November 9.2%, December 10.6%. Busiest month is December at 10.6%.

Best months: December, January, February

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)

Quietest month

October

479 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak79810.2%
Februarypeak7759.9%
March6958.9%
April7489.6%
May7319.3%
June4966.3%
July4806.1%
August5627.2%
September5116.5%
October4796.1%
November7239.2%
Decemberpeak83010.6%

Hawks you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Red-tailed Hawk2,217
Bald Eagle1,834
Red-shouldered Hawk1,656
Cooper's Hawk780
Mississippi Kite418
Northern Harrier274
Broad-winged Hawk179
Sharp-shinned Hawk114

In Missouri, November carries 9.2% of the year's hawks sightings, about 0.9 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 6th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from October (6.1%) into November, and it heads toward December (10.6%) after. The busiest month is December (10.6%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

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 November split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in November 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 tripGeorge Washington Carver National Monument

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.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see hawks in Missouri in November?+

Yes. November accounts for 723 of the 7,828 verified hawks sightings logged in Missouri across the year, which is 9.2% of the annual total.

Is November a good time to see hawks in Missouri?+

November is the 6th busiest month. It is workable, though December and January is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

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.