9 Types of Eagles in West Virginia
9 types of eagles from the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae) have a verified observation record in West Virginia. The most frequently recorded are Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk and Red-tailed Hawk. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
Quick Answer
9 types of eagles from the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae) have a verified observation record in West Virginia. The most frequently recorded are Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk and Red-tailed Hawk. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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Verified species, source iNaturalist
9 types of eagles recorded in West Virginia
9 eagles species have a verified observation record in West Virginia across the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae), each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
| # | Species | Scientific name | Verified records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | 469 |
| 2 | Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | 415 |
| 3 | Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | 394 |
| 4 | Cooper's Hawk | Astur cooperii | 176 |
| 5 | Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | 127 |
| 6 | Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | 35 |
| 7 | Northern Harrier | Circus hudsonius | 34 |
| 8 | Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | 33 |
| 9 | Rough-legged Hawk | Buteo lagopus | 17 |
Plus 3 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
Gear and field guides
The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is the most commonly recorded, with 469 verified observations — about 28% of all eagles reported in West Virginia. If you spot a eagle here, it is statistically most likely to be this one.
West Virginia also hosts less common eagles such as Golden Eagle, Northern Harrier and Sharp-shinned Hawk, each recorded fewer than 100 times. These are the species worth a second look when you are out, since a sighting is more notable.