11 Types of Eagles in Montana
11 types of eagles from the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae) have a verified observation record in Montana. The most frequently recorded are Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Swainson's Hawk. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
Quick Answer
11 types of eagles from the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae) have a verified observation record in Montana. The most frequently recorded are Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Swainson's Hawk. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
More Pages
More eagle pages for Montana
Jump back to the main page for this route cluster.
Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
4,291 verified observations on iNaturalist of eagle have been recorded in Montana, most often in May, August, June.
| Species recorded in Montana | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Bald Eagle | 1,359 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 990 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 347 |
| Golden Eagle | 323 |
| Northern Harrier | 308 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 293 |
When eagle are recorded in Montana
Verified species, source iNaturalist
11 types of eagles recorded in Montana
11 eagles species have a verified observation record in Montana across the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae), each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
| # | Species | Scientific name | Verified records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | 1,360 |
| 2 | Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | 992 |
| 3 | Swainson's Hawk | Buteo swainsoni | 348 |
| 4 | Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | 323 |
| 5 | Northern Harrier | Circus hudsonius | 311 |
| 6 | Rough-legged Hawk | Buteo lagopus | 293 |
| 7 | Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | 214 |
| 8 | Cooper's Hawk | Astur cooperii | 175 |
| 9 | Ferruginous Hawk | Buteo regalis | 164 |
| 10 | American Goshawk | Astur atricapillus | 59 |
| 11 | Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | 17 |
Plus 1 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
Gear and field guides
The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is the most commonly recorded, with 1,360 verified observations — about 32% of all eagles reported in Montana. If you spot a eagle here, it is statistically most likely to be this one.
Montana also hosts less common eagles such as American Goshawk and Broad-winged Hawk, each recorded fewer than 100 times. These are the species worth a second look when you are out, since a sighting is more notable.