12 Types of Eagles in Tennessee
12 types of eagles from the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae) have a verified observation record in Tennessee. The most frequently recorded are Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk and Bald Eagle. 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 Tennessee. The most frequently recorded are Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk and Bald Eagle. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
12,162 verified observations on iNaturalist of eagle have been recorded in Tennessee, most often in December, January, November.
| Species recorded in Tennessee | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Red-tailed Hawk | 4,945 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 2,388 |
| Bald Eagle | 1,745 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1,223 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 500 |
Verified species, source iNaturalist
12 types of eagles recorded in Tennessee
12 eagles species have a verified observation record in Tennessee 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 | 4,949 |
| 2 | Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | 2,391 |
| 3 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | 1,746 |
| 4 | Cooper's Hawk | Astur cooperii | 1,223 |
| 5 | Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | 500 |
| 6 | Mississippi Kite | Ictinia mississippiensis | 469 |
| 7 | Northern Harrier | Circus hudsonius | 447 |
| 8 | Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | 122 |
| 9 | Rough-legged Hawk | Buteo lagopus | 36 |
| 10 | Swallow-tailed Kite | Elanoides forficatus | 28 |
| 11 | Ferruginous Hawk | Buteo regalis | 15 |
| 12 | Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | 10 |
Plus 4 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 4,949 verified observations — about 41% of all eagles reported in Tennessee. If you spot a eagle here, it is statistically most likely to be this one.
Tennessee also hosts less common eagles such as Rough-legged Hawk, Swallow-tailed Kite and Ferruginous 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.