Hawks in New Mexico in December
Yes, December is one of the best months to see hawks in New Mexico. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 1,258 of the 10,059 sightings logged across the year (12.5%), based on verified iNaturalist records.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.
Peak month for hawks in New Mexico
12.5%
of yearly sightings
1,258
records in December
#1
busiest month of 12
10,059
verified records a year
November 8.2%, December 12.5%, January 12.1%. Busiest month is December at 12.5%.
10,059 verified observations of hawks in New Mexico, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When hawks are recorded in New Mexico
Peak month
December
1,258 records (12.5% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 1,215 | 12.1% |
| February | 871 | 8.7% |
| March | 708 | 7% |
| Aprilpeak | 1,104 | 11% |
| May | 747 | 7.4% |
| June | 581 | 5.8% |
| July | 701 | 7% |
| August | 713 | 7.1% |
| September | 697 | 6.9% |
| October | 637 | 6.3% |
| November | 827 | 8.2% |
| Decemberpeak | 1,258 | 12.5% |
Hawks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2,941 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 2,480 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 1,184 |
| Northern Harrier | 748 |
| Bald Eagle | 622 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 386 |
| Golden Eagle | 332 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 295 |
In New Mexico, December carries 12.5% of the year's hawks sightings, about 4.2 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 1st busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is rising from November (8.2%) into December, and it heads toward January (12.1%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so December is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The hawks 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 December split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in December itself.
Which hawks you are most likely to see
- Red-tailed Hawk2,941 records
- Cooper's Hawk2,480 records
- Swainson's Hawk1,184 records
- Northern Harrier748 records
- Bald Eagle622 records
- Ferruginous Hawk386 records
Plan your hawk 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.
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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see hawks in New Mexico in December?+
Yes. December accounts for 1,258 of the 10,059 verified hawks sightings logged in New Mexico across the year, which is 12.5% of the annual total.
Is December a good time to see hawks in New Mexico?+
December is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of December, January and April.
What month is best for hawks in New Mexico?+
December is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through December, January and April, based on 10,059 verified observations.
Which hawks 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.
See hawks in New Mexico in other months
More places to see hawks
More wildlife in New Mexico