Hawks in New York in February
Yes, February is one of the best months to see hawks in New York. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 2,851 of the 27,209 sightings logged across the year (10.5%), 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 York
10.5%
of yearly sightings
2,851
records in February
#3
busiest month of 12
27,209
verified records a year
January 11.2%, February 10.5%, March 10.9%. Busiest month is January at 11.2%.
27,209 verified observations of hawks in New York, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When hawks are recorded in New York
Peak month
January
3,038 records (11.2% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 3,038 | 11.2% |
| Februarypeak | 2,851 | 10.5% |
| Marchpeak | 2,970 | 10.9% |
| April | 2,850 | 10.5% |
| May | 1,804 | 6.6% |
| June | 1,309 | 4.8% |
| July | 1,496 | 5.5% |
| August | 1,735 | 6.4% |
| September | 1,967 | 7.2% |
| October | 2,266 | 8.3% |
| November | 2,419 | 8.9% |
| December | 2,504 | 9.2% |
Hawks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Red-tailed Hawk | 12,928 |
| Bald Eagle | 5,321 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 4,200 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 1,121 |
| Northern Harrier | 1,013 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 799 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 625 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 324 |
In New York, February carries 10.5% of the year's hawks sightings, about 2.2 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity holds steady between January and February, and it heads toward March (10.9%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so February is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The hawks most often recorded in New York are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Cooper'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 hawks you are most likely to see
- Red-tailed Hawk12,928 records
- Bald Eagle5,321 records
- Cooper's Hawk4,200 records
- Red-shouldered Hawk1,121 records
- Northern Harrier1,013 records
- Broad-winged Hawk799 records
Plan your hawk 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.
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Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main hawk viewing area.
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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see hawks in New York in February?+
Yes. February accounts for 2,851 of the 27,209 verified hawks sightings logged in New York across the year, which is 10.5% of the annual total.
Is February a good time to see hawks in New York?+
February is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of January, March and February.
What month is best for hawks in New York?+
January is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through January, March and February, based on 27,209 verified observations.
Which hawks are you most likely to see in New York?+
The most-recorded species in New York are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Cooper's Hawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See hawks in New York in other months
More places to see hawks