Eagles in Ohio in January

Yes, January is a good month to see eagles in Ohio. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 2,533 of the 25,177 sightings logged across the year (10.1%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

T

By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Red-tailed Hawk photographed in OhioRed-shouldered Hawk photographed in OhioBald Eagle photographed in Ohio
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for eagles in Ohio

10.1%

of yearly sightings

2,533

records in January

#4

busiest month of 12

25,177

verified records a year

December 8%, January 10.1%, February 9.4%. Busiest month is April at 12.3%.

Best months: April, May, March

25,177 verified observations of eagles in Ohio, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When eagles are recorded in Ohio

Peak month

April

3,086 records (12.3% of the year)

Quietest month

July

1,401 records

MonthObservationsShare
January2,53310.1%
February2,3569.4%
Marchpeak2,60310.3%
Aprilpeak3,08612.3%
Maypeak3,06012.2%
June1,4235.7%
July1,4015.6%
August1,6676.6%
September1,6896.7%
October1,5606.2%
November1,7767.1%
December2,0238%

Eagles you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Bald Eagle8,178
Red-tailed Hawk6,969
Red-shouldered Hawk4,190
Cooper's Hawk3,419
Northern Harrier730
Broad-winged Hawk562
Sharp-shinned Hawk264
Rough-legged Hawk249

In Ohio, January carries 10.1% of the year's eagles sightings, about 1.8 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 (8%) into January, and it heads toward February (9.4%) after. The busiest month is April (12.3%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The eagles most often recorded in Ohio are Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Red-shouldered 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 eagles you are most likely to see

  • Bald Eagle8,178 records
  • Red-tailed Hawk6,969 records
  • Red-shouldered Hawk4,190 records
  • Cooper's Hawk3,419 records
  • Northern Harrier730 records
  • Broad-winged Hawk562 records
Plan your tripCuyahoga Valley National Park

Plan your eagle trip in Ohio

Start with live tours near Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 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 eagles in Ohio in January?+

Yes. January accounts for 2,533 of the 25,177 verified eagles sightings logged in Ohio across the year, which is 10.1% of the annual total.

Is January a good time to see eagles in Ohio?+

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

What month is best for eagles in Ohio?+

April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, May and March, based on 25,177 verified observations.

Which eagles are you most likely to see in Ohio?+

The most-recorded species in Ohio are Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Red-shouldered Hawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.