Eagles in Virginia in November

Yes, November is a good month to see eagles in Virginia. It is the 6th busiest month of the year, with 1,882 of the 21,900 sightings logged across the year (8.6%), 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 July 2, 2026.

North American golden eagle photographed in VirginiaEastern Red-tailed Hawk photographed in VirginiaBald Eagle photographed in Virginia
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for eagles in Virginia

8.6%

of yearly sightings

1,882

records in November

#6

busiest month of 12

21,900

verified records a year

October 7.5%, November 8.6%, December 11.1%. Busiest month is January at 11.8%.

Best months: January, December, February

21,900 verified observations of eagles in Virginia, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When eagles are recorded in Virginia

Peak month

January

2,578 records (11.8% of the year)

Quietest month

July

965 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak2,57811.8%
Februarypeak2,37810.9%
March2,26310.3%
April2,29210.5%
May1,6837.7%
June1,1715.3%
July9654.4%
August1,2345.6%
September1,3706.3%
October1,6447.5%
November1,8828.6%
Decemberpeak2,44011.1%

Eagles you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Red-shouldered Hawk6,982
Bald Eagle6,213
Red-tailed Hawk3,451
Cooper's Hawk2,873
Northern Harrier496
Broad-winged Hawk451
Sharp-shinned Hawk403
Mississippi Kite236

In Virginia, November carries 8.6% of the year's eagles sightings, about 0.3 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 6th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from October (7.5%) into November, and it heads toward December (11.1%) after. The busiest month is January (11.8%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

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

Which eagles you are most likely to see

  • Red-shouldered Hawk6,982 records
  • Bald Eagle6,213 records
  • Red-tailed Hawk3,451 records
  • Cooper's Hawk2,873 records
  • Northern Harrier496 records
  • Broad-winged Hawk451 records
Plan your tripAppalachian National Scenic Trail

Plan your eagle trip in Virginia

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 Virginia in November?+

Yes. November accounts for 1,882 of the 21,900 verified eagles sightings logged in Virginia across the year, which is 8.6% of the annual total.

Is November a good time to see eagles in Virginia?+

November is the 6th busiest month. It is workable, though January and December is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for eagles in Virginia?+

January is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through January, December and February, based on 21,900 verified observations.

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

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