Hawks in Wisconsin in May
Yes, May is one of the best months to see hawks in Wisconsin. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 1,071 of the 10,019 sightings logged across the year (10.7%), 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.
Peak month for hawks in Wisconsin
10.7%
of yearly sightings
1,071
records in May
#2
busiest month of 12
10,019
verified records a year
April 11.4%, May 10.7%, June 6.9%. Busiest month is April at 11.4%.
10,019 verified observations of hawks in Wisconsin, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When hawks are recorded in Wisconsin
Peak month
April
1,143 records (11.4% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 837 | 8.4% |
| February | 806 | 8% |
| Marchpeak | 1,060 | 10.6% |
| Aprilpeak | 1,143 | 11.4% |
| Maypeak | 1,071 | 10.7% |
| June | 690 | 6.9% |
| July | 739 | 7.4% |
| August | 885 | 8.8% |
| September | 768 | 7.7% |
| October | 726 | 7.2% |
| November | 624 | 6.2% |
| December | 670 | 6.7% |
Hawks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Bald Eagle | 3,844 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 3,078 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1,403 |
| Northern Harrier | 425 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 398 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 317 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 181 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 103 |
In Wisconsin, May carries 10.7% of the year's hawks sightings, about 2.4 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 April and May, and it heads toward June (6.9%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so May is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The hawks most often recorded in Wisconsin are Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Cooper's Hawk. Those counts are annual totals rather than a May split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in May itself.
Which hawks you are most likely to see
- Bald Eagle3,844 records
- Red-tailed Hawk3,078 records
- Cooper's Hawk1,403 records
- Northern Harrier425 records
- Broad-winged Hawk398 records
- Rough-legged Hawk317 records
Plan your hawk trip in Wisconsin
Start with live tours near Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, 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 Wisconsin in May?+
Yes. May accounts for 1,071 of the 10,019 verified hawks sightings logged in Wisconsin across the year, which is 10.7% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see hawks in Wisconsin?+
May is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of April, May and March.
What month is best for hawks in Wisconsin?+
April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, May and March, based on 10,019 verified observations.
Which hawks are you most likely to see in Wisconsin?+
The most-recorded species in Wisconsin are Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Cooper's Hawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See hawks in Wisconsin in other months
More places to see hawks
More wildlife in Wisconsin