Eagles in New Mexico in January

Yes, January is one of the best months to see eagles in New Mexico. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 1,215 of the 10,075 sightings logged across the year (12.1%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

T

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.

Peak month for eagles in New Mexico

12.1%

of yearly sightings

1,215

records in January

#2

busiest month of 12

10,075

verified records a year

December 12.5%, January 12.1%, February 8.6%. 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, January carries 12.1% of the year's eagles sightings, about 3.8 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 2nd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity holds steady between December and January, and it heads toward February (8.6%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so January is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

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 January split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in January 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 January?+

Yes. January accounts for 1,215 of the 10,075 verified eagles sightings logged in New Mexico across the year, which is 12.1% of the annual total.

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

January is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of December, January and April.

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.