Hawks in Virginia in April
Yes, April is a good month to see hawks in Virginia. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 2,293 of the 21,947 sightings logged across the year (10.4%), based on verified iNaturalist records.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.
Good month for hawks in Virginia
10.4%
of yearly sightings
2,293
records in April
#4
busiest month of 12
21,947
verified records a year
March 10.3%, April 10.4%, May 7.7%. Busiest month is January at 11.7%.
21,947 verified observations of hawks in Virginia, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When hawks are recorded in Virginia
Peak month
January
2,578 records (11.7% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 2,578 | 11.7% |
| Februarypeak | 2,379 | 10.8% |
| March | 2,262 | 10.3% |
| April | 2,293 | 10.4% |
| May | 1,684 | 7.7% |
| June | 1,214 | 5.5% |
| July | 967 | 4.4% |
| August | 1,234 | 5.6% |
| September | 1,370 | 6.2% |
| October | 1,644 | 7.5% |
| November | 1,882 | 8.6% |
| Decemberpeak | 2,440 | 11.1% |
Hawks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 7,000 |
| Bald Eagle | 6,224 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 3,462 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 2,878 |
| Northern Harrier | 496 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 451 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 403 |
| Mississippi Kite | 238 |
In Virginia, April carries 10.4% of the year's hawks sightings, about 2.1 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 March and April, and it heads toward May (7.7%) after. The busiest month is January (11.7%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
The hawks most often recorded in Virginia are Red-shouldered Hawk, Bald Eagle and Red-tailed Hawk. Those counts are annual totals rather than a April split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in April itself.
Which hawks you are most likely to see
- Red-shouldered Hawk7,000 records
- Bald Eagle6,224 records
- Red-tailed Hawk3,462 records
- Cooper's Hawk2,878 records
- Northern Harrier496 records
- Broad-winged Hawk451 records
Plan your hawk 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.
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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see hawks in Virginia in April?+
Yes. April accounts for 2,293 of the 21,947 verified hawks sightings logged in Virginia across the year, which is 10.4% of the annual total.
Is April a good time to see hawks in Virginia?+
April is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though January and December is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
What month is best for hawks in Virginia?+
January is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through January, December and February, based on 21,947 verified observations.
Which hawks 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.
See hawks in Virginia in other months
More places to see hawks
More wildlife in Virginia