Eagles in New Mexico in February

Yes, February is a good month to see eagles in New Mexico. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 871 of the 10,075 sightings logged across the year (8.6%), 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.

Swainson's Hawk photographed in New MexicoFerruginous Hawk photographed in New MexicoCooper's Hawk photographed in New Mexico
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for eagles in New Mexico

8.6%

of yearly sightings

871

records in February

#4

busiest month of 12

10,075

verified records a year

January 12.1%, February 8.6%, March 7%. Busiest month is December at 12.5%.

Best months: December, January, April

10,075 verified observations of eagles in New Mexico, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When eagles are recorded in New Mexico

Peak month

December

1,258 records (12.5% of the year)

Quietest month

June

594 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak1,21512.1%
February8718.6%
March7087%
Aprilpeak1,10411%
May7487.4%
June5945.9%
July7037%
August7137.1%
September6976.9%
October6376.3%
November8278.2%
Decemberpeak1,25812.5%

Eagles you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Red-tailed Hawk2,942
Cooper's Hawk2,488
Swainson's Hawk1,190
Northern Harrier748
Bald Eagle622
Ferruginous Hawk386
Golden Eagle333
Sharp-shinned Hawk295

In New Mexico, February carries 8.6% of the year's eagles sightings, about 0.3 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 is easing off from January (12.1%) into February, and it heads toward March (7%) after. The busiest month is December (12.5%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The eagles most often recorded in New Mexico are Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk and Swainson's Hawk. Those counts are annual totals rather than a February split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in February itself.

Which eagles you are most likely to see

  • Red-tailed Hawk2,942 records
  • Cooper's Hawk2,488 records
  • Swainson's Hawk1,190 records
  • Northern Harrier748 records
  • Bald Eagle622 records
  • Ferruginous Hawk386 records
Plan your tripBandelier National Monument

Plan your eagle trip in New Mexico

Start with live tours near Bandelier 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 New Mexico in February?+

Yes. February accounts for 871 of the 10,075 verified eagles sightings logged in New Mexico across the year, which is 8.6% of the annual total.

Is February a good time to see eagles in New Mexico?+

February is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though December and January is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for eagles in New Mexico?+

December is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through December, January and April, based on 10,075 verified observations.

Which eagles are you most likely to see in New Mexico?+

The most-recorded species in New Mexico are Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk and Swainson's Hawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.