Hawks in Tennessee in February

Yes, February is a good month to see hawks in Tennessee. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 1,355 of the 12,181 sightings logged across the year (11.1%), 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.

Good month for hawks in Tennessee

11.1%

of yearly sightings

1,355

records in February

#4

busiest month of 12

12,181

verified records a year

January 11.4%, February 11.1%, March 9.4%. Busiest month is December at 11.7%.

Best months: December, January, November

12,181 verified observations of hawks in Tennessee, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When hawks are recorded in Tennessee

Peak month

December

1,428 records (11.7% of the year)

Quietest month

July

585 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak1,39411.4%
February1,35511.1%
March1,1489.4%
April1,0738.8%
May8877.3%
June7195.9%
July5854.8%
August7075.8%
September6235.1%
October9037.4%
Novemberpeak1,35911.2%
Decemberpeak1,42811.7%

Hawks you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Red-tailed Hawk4,949
Red-shouldered Hawk2,394
Bald Eagle1,746
Cooper's Hawk1,226
Broad-winged Hawk500
Mississippi Kite469
Northern Harrier447
Sharp-shinned Hawk122

In Tennessee, February carries 11.1% of the year's hawks sightings, about 2.8 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 4th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity holds steady between January and February, and it heads toward March (9.4%) after. The busiest month is December (11.7%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

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

Which hawks you are most likely to see

  • Red-tailed Hawk4,949 records
  • Red-shouldered Hawk2,394 records
  • Bald Eagle1,746 records
  • Cooper's Hawk1,226 records
  • Broad-winged Hawk500 records
  • Mississippi Kite469 records
Plan your tripAppalachian National Scenic Trail

Plan your hawk 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 hawks in Tennessee in February?+

Yes. February accounts for 1,355 of the 12,181 verified hawks sightings logged in Tennessee across the year, which is 11.1% of the annual total.

Is February a good time to see hawks in Tennessee?+

February is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though December and January is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for hawks in Tennessee?+

December is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through December, January and November, based on 12,181 verified observations.

Which hawks 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.