Bald Eagles in West Virginia in January

Yes, January is one of the best months to see bald eagles in West Virginia. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 52 of the 469 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.

Bald Eagle photographed in West VirginiaBald Eagle photographed in West VirginiaBald Eagle photographed in West Virginia
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for bald eagles in West Virginia

11.1%

of yearly sightings

52

records in January

#2

busiest month of 12

469

verified records a year

December 11.5%, January 11.1%, February 10.7%. Busiest month is December at 11.5%.

Best months: December, January, March

469 verified observations of bald eagles in West Virginia, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When bald eagles are recorded in West Virginia

Peak month

December

54 records (11.5% of the year)

Quietest month

July

14 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak5211.1%
February5010.7%
Marchpeak5110.9%
April5110.9%
May408.5%
June275.8%
July143%
August194.1%
September408.5%
October418.7%
November306.4%
Decemberpeak5411.5%

Bald Eagles you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Bald Eagle469

In West Virginia, January carries 11.1% of the year's bald eagles sightings, about 2.8 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 2nd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity holds steady between December and January, and it heads toward February (10.7%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so January is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

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

Which bald eagles you are most likely to see

  • Bald Eagle469 records
Plan your tripAppalachian National Scenic Trail

Plan your bald eagle trip in West 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 bald eagles in West Virginia in January?+

Yes. January accounts for 52 of the 469 verified bald eagles sightings logged in West Virginia across the year, which is 11.1% of the annual total.

Is January a good time to see bald eagles in West Virginia?+

January is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of December, January and March.

What month is best for bald eagles in West Virginia?+

December is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through December, January and March, based on 469 verified observations.

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

The most-recorded species in West Virginia are Bald Eagle, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.