Bald Eagles in New York in January

Yes, January is a good month to see bald eagles in New York. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 517 of the 5,320 sightings logged across the year (9.7%), 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.

Bald Eagle photographed in New YorkBald Eagle photographed in New YorkBald Eagle photographed in New York
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for bald eagles in New York

9.7%

of yearly sightings

517

records in January

#4

busiest month of 12

5,320

verified records a year

December 5.4%, January 9.7%, February 11.3%. Busiest month is April at 12.6%.

Best months: April, March, February

5,320 verified observations of bald eagles in New York, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When bald eagles are recorded in New York

Peak month

April

671 records (12.6% of the year)

Quietest month

December

289 records

MonthObservationsShare
January5179.7%
Februarypeak60311.3%
Marchpeak65912.4%
Aprilpeak67112.6%
May4688.8%
June3075.8%
July3186%
August3867.3%
September3827.2%
October3937.4%
November3276.1%
December2895.4%

Bald Eagles you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Bald Eagle5,320

In New York, January carries 9.7% of the year's bald eagles sightings, about 1.4 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 is rising from December (5.4%) into January, and it heads toward February (11.3%) after. The busiest month is April (12.6%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The bald eagles most often recorded in New York are Bald Eagle. 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 bald eagles you are most likely to see

  • Bald Eagle5,320 records
Plan your tripAppalachian National Scenic Trail

Plan your bald eagle trip in New York

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 bald eagles in New York in January?+

Yes. January accounts for 517 of the 5,320 verified bald eagles sightings logged in New York across the year, which is 9.7% of the annual total.

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

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

What month is best for bald eagles in New York?+

April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, March and February, based on 5,320 verified observations.

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

The most-recorded species in New York are Bald Eagle, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.