10 Types of Eagles in North Dakota
10 types of eagles from the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae) have a verified observation record in North Dakota. The most frequently recorded are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Swainson's Hawk. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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10 types of eagles from the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae) have a verified observation record in North Dakota. The most frequently recorded are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Swainson's Hawk. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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Verified species, source iNaturalist
10 types of eagles recorded in North Dakota
10 eagles species have a verified observation record in North Dakota across the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae), each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
| # | Species | Scientific name | Verified records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | 293 |
| 2 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | 238 |
| 3 | Swainson's Hawk | Buteo swainsoni | 193 |
| 4 | Northern Harrier | Circus hudsonius | 113 |
| 5 | Cooper's Hawk | Astur cooperii | 82 |
| 6 | Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | 66 |
| 7 | Rough-legged Hawk | Buteo lagopus | 66 |
| 8 | Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | 39 |
| 9 | Ferruginous Hawk | Buteo regalis | 34 |
| 10 | Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | 32 |
Plus 2 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
Gear and field guides
The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is the most commonly recorded, with 293 verified observations — about 25% of all eagles reported in North Dakota. If you spot a eagle here, it is statistically most likely to be this one.
North Dakota also hosts less common eagles such as Cooper's Hawk, Golden Eagle and Rough-legged Hawk, each recorded fewer than 100 times. These are the species worth a second look when you are out, since a sighting is more notable.