Hawks in Pennsylvania in December
Yes, December is a good month to see hawks in Pennsylvania. It is the 6th busiest month of the year, with 2,335 of the 25,854 sightings logged across the year (9%), based on verified iNaturalist records.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.
Good month for hawks in Pennsylvania
9%
of yearly sightings
2,335
records in December
#6
busiest month of 12
25,854
verified records a year
November 9.9%, December 9%, January 9.2%. Busiest month is March at 10.3%.
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)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 2,378 | 9.2% |
| February | 2,444 | 9.5% |
| Marchpeak | 2,655 | 10.3% |
| Aprilpeak | 2,653 | 10.3% |
| May | 2,036 | 7.9% |
| June | 1,513 | 5.9% |
| July | 1,377 | 5.3% |
| August | 1,648 | 6.4% |
| September | 1,917 | 7.4% |
| October | 2,329 | 9% |
| Novemberpeak | 2,569 | 9.9% |
| December | 2,335 | 9% |
Hawks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Red-tailed Hawk | 10,011 |
| Bald Eagle | 6,133 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 3,729 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 2,220 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 819 |
| Golden Eagle | 792 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 685 |
| Northern Harrier | 566 |
In Pennsylvania, December carries 9% of the year's hawks sightings, about 0.7 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 6th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity holds steady between November and December, and it heads toward January (9.2%) after. The busiest month is March (10.3%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
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 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 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 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.
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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see hawks in Pennsylvania in December?+
Yes. December accounts for 2,335 of the 25,854 verified hawks sightings logged in Pennsylvania across the year, which is 9% of the annual total.
Is December a good time to see hawks in Pennsylvania?+
December is the 6th busiest month. It is workable, though March and April is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
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.
See hawks in Pennsylvania in other months
More places to see hawks
More wildlife in Pennsylvania