Hawks in New Hampshire in September

Yes, September is a good month to see hawks in New Hampshire. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 401 of the 3,250 sightings logged across the year (12.3%), 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.

Red-tailed Hawk photographed in New HampshireEastern Red-tailed Hawk photographed in New HampshireRed-tailed Hawk photographed in New Hampshire
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for hawks in New Hampshire

12.3%

of yearly sightings

401

records in September

#4

busiest month of 12

3,250

verified records a year

August 12.9%, September 12.3%, October 5.8%. Busiest month is August at 12.9%.

Best months: August, May, April

3,250 verified observations of hawks in New Hampshire, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When hawks are recorded in New Hampshire

Peak month

August

420 records (12.9% of the year)

Quietest month

December

116 records

MonthObservationsShare
January1304%
February1424.4%
March2357.2%
Aprilpeak40512.5%
Maypeak41112.6%
June3089.5%
July36911.4%
Augustpeak42012.9%
September40112.3%
October1905.8%
November1233.8%
December1163.6%

Hawks you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Broad-winged Hawk777
Bald Eagle770
Red-tailed Hawk707
Cooper's Hawk354
Red-shouldered Hawk253
Sharp-shinned Hawk135
Northern Harrier56
Mississippi Kite48

In New Hampshire, September carries 12.3% of the year's hawks sightings, about 4 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 4th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity holds steady between August and September, and it heads toward October (5.8%) after. The busiest month is August (12.9%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The hawks most often recorded in New Hampshire are Broad-winged Hawk, Bald Eagle and Red-tailed Hawk. Those counts are annual totals rather than a September split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in September itself.

Which hawks you are most likely to see

  • Broad-winged Hawk777 records
  • Bald Eagle770 records
  • Red-tailed Hawk707 records
  • Cooper's Hawk354 records
  • Red-shouldered Hawk253 records
  • Sharp-shinned Hawk135 records
Plan your tripAppalachian National Scenic Trail

Plan your hawk trip in New Hampshire

Start with live tours near Appalachian National Scenic Trail, 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 New Hampshire in September?+

Yes. September accounts for 401 of the 3,250 verified hawks sightings logged in New Hampshire across the year, which is 12.3% of the annual total.

Is September a good time to see hawks in New Hampshire?+

September is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though August and May is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for hawks in New Hampshire?+

August is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through August, May and April, based on 3,250 verified observations.

Which hawks are you most likely to see in New Hampshire?+

The most-recorded species in New Hampshire are Broad-winged Hawk, Bald Eagle and Red-tailed Hawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.