Hawks in Oklahoma in January

Yes, January is one of the best months to see hawks in Oklahoma. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 794 of the 7,341 sightings logged across the year (10.8%), 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.

Golden Eagle photographed in OklahomaBald Eagle photographed in OklahomaSwainson's Hawk photographed in Oklahoma
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for hawks in Oklahoma

10.8%

of yearly sightings

794

records in January

#3

busiest month of 12

7,341

verified records a year

December 9.9%, January 10.8%, February 8.9%. Busiest month is April at 11.6%.

Best months: April, May, January

7,341 verified observations of hawks in Oklahoma, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When hawks are recorded in Oklahoma

Peak month

April

854 records (11.6% of the year)

Quietest month

September

331 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak79410.8%
February6548.9%
March5477.5%
Aprilpeak85411.6%
Maypeak82511.2%
June5177%
July5096.9%
August5407.4%
September3314.5%
October4175.7%
November6288.6%
December7259.9%

Hawks you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Red-tailed Hawk1,780
Red-shouldered Hawk1,434
Mississippi Kite1,276
Bald Eagle1,030
Cooper's Hawk505
Northern Harrier339
Swainson's Hawk293
Broad-winged Hawk149

In Oklahoma, January carries 10.8% of the year's hawks sightings, about 2.5 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 December and January, and it heads toward February (8.9%) 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 Oklahoma are Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk and Mississippi Kite. 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 Hawk1,780 records
  • Red-shouldered Hawk1,434 records
  • Mississippi Kite1,276 records
  • Bald Eagle1,030 records
  • Cooper's Hawk505 records
  • Northern Harrier339 records
Plan your tripChickasaw National Recreation Area

Plan your hawk trip in Oklahoma

Start with live tours near Chickasaw National Recreation Area, 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 Oklahoma in January?+

Yes. January accounts for 794 of the 7,341 verified hawks sightings logged in Oklahoma across the year, which is 10.8% of the annual total.

Is January a good time to see hawks in Oklahoma?+

January is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of April, May and January.

What month is best for hawks in Oklahoma?+

April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, May and January, based on 7,341 verified observations.

Which hawks are you most likely to see in Oklahoma?+

The most-recorded species in Oklahoma are Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk and Mississippi Kite, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.