Hawks in Pennsylvania in April

Yes, April is one of the best months to see hawks in Pennsylvania. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 2,653 of the 25,854 sightings logged across the year (10.3%), 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.

Sharp-shinned Hawk photographed in PennsylvaniaRed-tailed Hawk photographed in PennsylvaniaNorthern Harrier photographed in Pennsylvania
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for hawks in Pennsylvania

10.3%

of yearly sightings

2,653

records in April

#2

busiest month of 12

25,854

verified records a year

March 10.3%, April 10.3%, May 7.9%. Busiest month is March at 10.3%.

Best months: March, April, November

25,854 verified observations of hawks in Pennsylvania, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When hawks are recorded in Pennsylvania

Peak month

March

2,655 records (10.3% of the year)

Quietest month

July

1,377 records

MonthObservationsShare
January2,3789.2%
February2,4449.5%
Marchpeak2,65510.3%
Aprilpeak2,65310.3%
May2,0367.9%
June1,5135.9%
July1,3775.3%
August1,6486.4%
September1,9177.4%
October2,3299%
Novemberpeak2,5699.9%
December2,3359%

Hawks you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Red-tailed Hawk10,011
Bald Eagle6,133
Cooper's Hawk3,729
Red-shouldered Hawk2,220
Broad-winged Hawk819
Golden Eagle792
Sharp-shinned Hawk685
Northern Harrier566

In Pennsylvania, April carries 10.3% of the year's hawks sightings, about 2 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 2nd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity holds steady between March and April, and it heads toward May (7.9%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so April is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

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

Which hawks you are most likely to see

  • Red-tailed Hawk10,011 records
  • Bald Eagle6,133 records
  • Cooper's Hawk3,729 records
  • Red-shouldered Hawk2,220 records
  • Broad-winged Hawk819 records
  • Golden Eagle792 records
Plan your tripAppalachian National Scenic Trail

Plan your hawk trip in Pennsylvania

Start with live tours near Appalachian National Scenic Trail, 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 Pennsylvania in April?+

Yes. April accounts for 2,653 of the 25,854 verified hawks sightings logged in Pennsylvania across the year, which is 10.3% of the annual total.

Is April a good time to see hawks in Pennsylvania?+

April is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of March, April and November.

What month is best for hawks in Pennsylvania?+

March is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through March, April and November, based on 25,854 verified observations.

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

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