Hawks in New Mexico in November

Yes, November is a good month to see hawks in New Mexico. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 827 of the 10,059 sightings logged across the year (8.2%), 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 hawks in New Mexico

8.2%

of yearly sightings

827

records in November

#5

busiest month of 12

10,059

verified records a year

October 6.3%, November 8.2%, December 12.5%. Busiest month is December at 12.5%.

Best months: December, January, April

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)

Quietest month

June

581 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak1,21512.1%
February8718.7%
March7087%
Aprilpeak1,10411%
May7477.4%
June5815.8%
July7017%
August7137.1%
September6976.9%
October6376.3%
November8278.2%
Decemberpeak1,25812.5%

Hawks you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Red-tailed Hawk2,941
Cooper's Hawk2,480
Swainson's Hawk1,184
Northern Harrier748
Bald Eagle622
Ferruginous Hawk386
Golden Eagle332
Sharp-shinned Hawk295

In New Mexico, November carries 8.2% of the year's hawks sightings, about 0.1 points below an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 5th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from October (6.3%) into November, and it heads toward December (12.5%) after. The busiest month is December (12.5%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

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 November split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in November 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 tripBandelier National Monument

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.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see hawks in New Mexico in November?+

Yes. November accounts for 827 of the 10,059 verified hawks sightings logged in New Mexico across the year, which is 8.2% of the annual total.

Is November a good time to see hawks in New Mexico?+

November is the 5th busiest month. It is workable, though December and January is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

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.