Eagles in Oregon in December

Yes, December is one of the best months to see eagles in Oregon. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 3,218 of the 27,579 sightings logged across the year (11.7%), 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 OregonGolden Eagle photographed in OregonBald Eagle photographed in Oregon
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for eagles in Oregon

11.7%

of yearly sightings

3,218

records in December

#1

busiest month of 12

27,579

verified records a year

November 8.5%, December 11.7%, January 11%. Busiest month is December at 11.7%.

Best months: December, January, April

27,579 verified observations of eagles in Oregon, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When eagles are recorded in Oregon

Peak month

December

3,218 records (11.7% of the year)

Quietest month

August

1,561 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak3,02511%
February2,6639.7%
March2,7149.8%
Aprilpeak2,80210.2%
May2,3938.7%
June1,8636.8%
July1,5625.7%
August1,5615.7%
September1,6395.9%
October1,7876.5%
November2,3528.5%
Decemberpeak3,21811.7%

Eagles you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Red-tailed Hawk9,578
Bald Eagle7,731
Cooper's Hawk2,540
Northern Harrier2,240
Swainson's Hawk1,116
Red-shouldered Hawk1,034
Sharp-shinned Hawk789
Rough-legged Hawk770

In Oregon, December carries 11.7% of the year's eagles sightings, about 3.4 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 November (8.5%) into December, and it heads toward January (11%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so December is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The eagles most often recorded in Oregon are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Cooper's Hawk. Those counts are annual totals rather than a December split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in December itself.

Which eagles you are most likely to see

  • Red-tailed Hawk9,578 records
  • Bald Eagle7,731 records
  • Cooper's Hawk2,540 records
  • Northern Harrier2,240 records
  • Swainson's Hawk1,116 records
  • Red-shouldered Hawk1,034 records
Plan your tripCrater Lake National Park

Plan your eagle trip in Oregon

Start with live tours near Crater Lake 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 Oregon in December?+

Yes. December accounts for 3,218 of the 27,579 verified eagles sightings logged in Oregon across the year, which is 11.7% of the annual total.

Is December a good time to see eagles in Oregon?+

December is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of December, January and April.

What month is best for eagles in Oregon?+

December is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through December, January and April, based on 27,579 verified observations.

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

The most-recorded species in Oregon are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Cooper's Hawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.