12 Types of Eagles in Pennsylvania
12 types of eagles from the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae) have a verified observation record in Pennsylvania. The most frequently recorded are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Cooper's Hawk. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
Quick Answer
12 types of eagles from the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae) have a verified observation record in Pennsylvania. The most frequently recorded are Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Cooper's Hawk. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
25,805 verified observations on iNaturalist of eagle have been recorded in Pennsylvania, most often in March, April, November.
| Species recorded in Pennsylvania | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Red-tailed Hawk | 9,995 |
| Bald Eagle | 6,122 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 3,719 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 2,215 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 814 |
Verified species, source iNaturalist
12 types of eagles recorded in Pennsylvania
12 eagles species have a verified observation record in Pennsylvania across the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae), each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
| # | Species | Scientific name | Verified records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | 10,005 |
| 2 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | 6,128 |
| 3 | Cooper's Hawk | Astur cooperii | 3,724 |
| 4 | Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | 2,216 |
| 5 | Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | 817 |
| 6 | Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | 792 |
| 7 | Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | 685 |
| 8 | Northern Harrier | Circus hudsonius | 566 |
| 9 | Rough-legged Hawk | Buteo lagopus | 117 |
| 10 | Swallow-tailed Kite | Elanoides forficatus | 31 |
| 11 | Mississippi Kite | Ictinia mississippiensis | 19 |
| 12 | American Goshawk | Astur atricapillus | 19 |
Plus 2 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
Gear and field guides
The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is the most commonly recorded, with 10,005 verified observations — about 40% of all eagles reported in Pennsylvania. If you spot a eagle here, it is statistically most likely to be this one.
Pennsylvania also hosts less common eagles such as Swallow-tailed Kite, Mississippi Kite and American Goshawk, each recorded fewer than 100 times. These are the species worth a second look when you are out, since a sighting is more notable.