Eagles in Tennessee in January

Yes, January is one of the best months to see eagles in Tennessee. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 1,394 of the 12,184 sightings logged across the year (11.4%), 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.

Red-shouldered Hawk photographed in TennesseeRed-shouldered Hawk photographed in TennesseeBald Eagle photographed in Tennessee
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for eagles in Tennessee

11.4%

of yearly sightings

1,394

records in January

#2

busiest month of 12

12,184

verified records a year

December 11.7%, January 11.4%, February 11.1%. Busiest month is December at 11.7%.

Best months: December, January, November

12,184 verified observations of eagles in Tennessee, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When eagles are recorded in Tennessee

Peak month

December

1,428 records (11.7% of the year)

Quietest month

July

588 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak1,39411.4%
February1,35511.1%
March1,1489.4%
April1,0738.8%
May8877.3%
June7195.9%
July5884.8%
August7075.8%
September6235.1%
October9037.4%
Novemberpeak1,35911.2%
Decemberpeak1,42811.7%

Eagles you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Red-tailed Hawk4,946
Red-shouldered Hawk2,397
Bald Eagle1,746
Cooper's Hawk1,227
Broad-winged Hawk501
Mississippi Kite468
Northern Harrier447
Sharp-shinned Hawk122

In Tennessee, January carries 11.4% of the year's eagles sightings, about 3.1 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 December and January, and it heads toward February (11.1%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so January is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

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

Which eagles you are most likely to see

  • Red-tailed Hawk4,946 records
  • Red-shouldered Hawk2,397 records
  • Bald Eagle1,746 records
  • Cooper's Hawk1,227 records
  • Broad-winged Hawk501 records
  • Mississippi Kite468 records
Plan your tripAppalachian National Scenic Trail

Plan your eagle trip in Tennessee

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 eagles in Tennessee in January?+

Yes. January accounts for 1,394 of the 12,184 verified eagles sightings logged in Tennessee across the year, which is 11.4% of the annual total.

Is January a good time to see eagles in Tennessee?+

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

What month is best for eagles in Tennessee?+

December is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through December, January and November, based on 12,184 verified observations.

Which eagles are you most likely to see in Tennessee?+

The most-recorded species in Tennessee are Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk and Bald Eagle, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.