Eagles in Utah in December

Yes, December is a good month to see eagles in Utah. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 900 of the 10,209 sightings logged across the year (8.8%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

T

By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 30, 2026.

Good month for eagles in Utah

8.8%

of yearly sightings

900

records in December

#5

busiest month of 12

10,209

verified records a year

November 6.9%, December 8.8%, January 11.7%. Busiest month is January at 11.7%.

Best months: January, February, April

10,209 verified observations of eagles in Utah, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When eagles are recorded in Utah

Peak month

January

1,193 records (11.7% of the year)

Quietest month

October

559 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak1,19311.7%
Februarypeak1,16511.4%
March9579.4%
Aprilpeak1,13411.1%
May8978.8%
June5985.9%
July7617.5%
August6796.7%
September6616.5%
October5595.5%
November7056.9%
December9008.8%

Eagles you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Red-tailed Hawk3,091
Cooper's Hawk1,992
Bald Eagle1,277
Northern Harrier1,275
Swainson's Hawk848
Golden Eagle571
Sharp-shinned Hawk337
Rough-legged Hawk265

In Utah, December carries 8.8% of the year's eagles sightings, about 0.5 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 5th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from November (6.9%) into December, and it heads toward January (11.7%) after. The busiest month is January (11.7%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The eagles most often recorded in Utah are Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk and Bald Eagle. 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 eagles you are most likely to see

  • Red-tailed Hawk3,091 records
  • Cooper's Hawk1,992 records
  • Bald Eagle1,277 records
  • Northern Harrier1,275 records
  • Swainson's Hawk848 records
  • Golden Eagle571 records
Plan your tripBryce Canyon National Park

Plan your eagle trip in Utah

Start with live tours near Bryce Canyon National Park, 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 Utah in December?+

Yes. December accounts for 900 of the 10,209 verified eagles sightings logged in Utah across the year, which is 8.8% of the annual total.

Is December a good time to see eagles in Utah?+

December is the 5th busiest month. It is workable, though January and February is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for eagles in Utah?+

January is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through January, February and April, based on 10,209 verified observations.

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

The most-recorded species in Utah are Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk and Bald Eagle, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.