Hawks in Ohio in February

Yes, February is a good month to see hawks in Ohio. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 2,356 of the 25,177 sightings logged across the year (9.4%), 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.

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 hawks in Ohio

9.4%

of yearly sightings

2,356

records in February

#5

busiest month of 12

25,177

verified records a year

January 10.1%, February 9.4%, March 10.3%. Busiest month is April at 12.3%.

Best months: April, May, March

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

When hawks 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%

Hawks 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, February carries 9.4% of the year's hawks sightings, about 1.1 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 5th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity holds steady between January and February, and it heads toward March (10.3%) after. The busiest month is April (12.3%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The hawks most often recorded in Ohio are Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Red-shouldered 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

  • 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 hawk 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 hawks in Ohio in February?+

Yes. February accounts for 2,356 of the 25,177 verified hawks sightings logged in Ohio across the year, which is 9.4% of the annual total.

Is February a good time to see hawks in Ohio?+

February is the 5th busiest month. It is workable, though April and May is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for hawks 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 hawks 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.