Hawks in New York in January
Yes, January is one of the best months to see hawks in New York. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 3,038 of the 27,209 sightings logged across the year (11.2%), 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
11.2%
of yearly sightings
3,038
records in January
#1
busiest month of 12
27,209
verified records a year
December 9.2%, January 11.2%, February 10.5%. 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, January carries 11.2% of the year's hawks sightings, about 2.9 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 December (9.2%) into January, and it heads toward February (10.5%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so January 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 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 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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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see hawks in New York in January?+
Yes. January accounts for 3,038 of the 27,209 verified hawks sightings logged in New York across the year, which is 11.2% of the annual total.
Is January a good time to see hawks in New York?+
January is one of the best months. It ranks 1st 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