Hawks in Oregon in February

Yes, February is a good month to see hawks in Oregon. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 2,665 of the 27,612 sightings logged across the year (9.7%), 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.

Good month for hawks in Oregon

9.7%

of yearly sightings

2,665

records in February

#5

busiest month of 12

27,612

verified records a year

January 11%, February 9.7%, March 9.8%. Busiest month is December at 11.7%.

Best months: December, January, April

27,612 verified observations of hawks in Oregon, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When hawks are recorded in Oregon

Peak month

December

3,218 records (11.7% of the year)

Quietest month

August

1,561 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak3,02711%
February2,6659.7%
March2,7149.8%
Aprilpeak2,80210.1%
May2,3938.7%
June1,8866.8%
July1,5685.7%
August1,5615.7%
September1,6395.9%
October1,7876.5%
November2,3528.5%
Decemberpeak3,21811.7%

Hawks you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Red-tailed Hawk9,593
Bald Eagle7,739
Cooper's Hawk2,542
Northern Harrier2,240
Swainson's Hawk1,121
Red-shouldered Hawk1,037
Sharp-shinned Hawk789
Rough-legged Hawk769

In Oregon, February carries 9.7% of the year's hawks sightings, about 1.4 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 is easing off from January (11%) into February, and it heads toward March (9.8%) after. The busiest month is December (11.7%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The hawks most often recorded in Oregon are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Cooper's 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

  • Red-tailed Hawk9,593 records
  • Bald Eagle7,739 records
  • Cooper's Hawk2,542 records
  • Northern Harrier2,240 records
  • Swainson's Hawk1,121 records
  • Red-shouldered Hawk1,037 records
Plan your tripCrater Lake National Park

Plan your hawk 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 hawks in Oregon in February?+

Yes. February accounts for 2,665 of the 27,612 verified hawks sightings logged in Oregon across the year, which is 9.7% of the annual total.

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

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

What month is best for hawks in Oregon?+

December is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through December, January and April, based on 27,612 verified observations.

Which hawks 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.