10 Types of Eagles in South Dakota
10 types of eagles from the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae) have a verified observation record in South Dakota. The most frequently recorded are Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Northern Harrier. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
Quick Answer
10 types of eagles from the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae) have a verified observation record in South Dakota. The most frequently recorded are Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Northern Harrier. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
2,022 verified observations on iNaturalist of eagle have been recorded in South Dakota, most often in April, May, March.
| Species recorded in South Dakota | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Bald Eagle | 601 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 526 |
| Northern Harrier | 169 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 149 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 126 |
Verified species, source iNaturalist
10 types of eagles recorded in South Dakota
10 eagles species have a verified observation record in South Dakota 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 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | 601 |
| 2 | Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | 526 |
| 3 | Northern Harrier | Circus hudsonius | 169 |
| 4 | Rough-legged Hawk | Buteo lagopus | 149 |
| 5 | Swainson's Hawk | Buteo swainsoni | 126 |
| 6 | Cooper's Hawk | Astur cooperii | 115 |
| 7 | Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | 111 |
| 8 | Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | 73 |
| 9 | Ferruginous Hawk | Buteo regalis | 70 |
| 10 | Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | 42 |
Plus 3 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
Gear and field guides
The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is the most commonly recorded, with 601 verified observations — about 30% of all eagles reported in South Dakota. If you spot a eagle here, it is statistically most likely to be this one.
South Dakota also hosts less common eagles such as Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk and Broad-winged Hawk, each recorded fewer than 100 times. These are the species worth a second look when you are out, since a sighting is more notable.