Hawks in Washington in April

Yes, April is one of the best months to see hawks in Washington. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 3,362 of the 29,545 sightings logged across the year (11.4%), 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.

Bald Eagle photographed in WashingtonSharp-shinned Hawk photographed in WashingtonCooper's Hawk photographed in Washington
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for hawks in Washington

11.4%

of yearly sightings

3,362

records in April

#1

busiest month of 12

29,545

verified records a year

March 10.9%, April 11.4%, May 9.8%. Busiest month is April at 11.4%.

Best months: April, January, March

29,545 verified observations of hawks in Washington, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When hawks are recorded in Washington

Peak month

April

3,362 records (11.4% of the year)

Quietest month

September

1,379 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak3,30411.2%
February2,8879.8%
Marchpeak3,21210.9%
Aprilpeak3,36211.4%
May2,8909.8%
June2,4088.2%
July1,9956.8%
August1,6055.4%
September1,3794.7%
October1,6915.7%
November2,2447.6%
December2,5688.7%

Hawks you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Bald Eagle14,756
Red-tailed Hawk6,873
Cooper's Hawk3,241
Northern Harrier2,025
Sharp-shinned Hawk706
Rough-legged Hawk531
Swainson's Hawk413
Golden Eagle344

In Washington, April carries 11.4% of the year's hawks sightings, about 3.1 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 1st busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity holds steady between March and April, and it heads toward May (9.8%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so April is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The hawks most often recorded in Washington are Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Cooper's 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

  • Bald Eagle14,756 records
  • Red-tailed Hawk6,873 records
  • Cooper's Hawk3,241 records
  • Northern Harrier2,025 records
  • Sharp-shinned Hawk706 records
  • Rough-legged Hawk531 records
Plan your tripEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve

Plan your hawk trip in Washington

Start with live tours near Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, 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 Washington in April?+

Yes. April accounts for 3,362 of the 29,545 verified hawks sightings logged in Washington across the year, which is 11.4% of the annual total.

Is April a good time to see hawks in Washington?+

April is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of April, January and March.

What month is best for hawks in Washington?+

April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, January and March, based on 29,545 verified observations.

Which hawks are you most likely to see in Washington?+

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