Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is in the Hawks, Eagles, and Kites family (Accipitridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 10,802 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in January.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Golden Eagle: observations by month (U.S.)
About Golden Eagle
The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the best-known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. These birds are dark brown, with lighter golden-brown plumage on their napes. Immature eagles of this species typically have white on the tail and often have white markings on the wings. Golden eagles use their agility and speed combined with powerful...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Golden Eagle by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 3,941 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Colorado | 1,052 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Pennsylvania | 764 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Oregon | 637 | December | Sep–Jun |
| Utah | 550 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Wyoming | 400 | July | May–Sep |
| Arizona | 349 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Montana | 329 | June | Dec–Oct |
| Washington | 326 | May | Aug–Jun |
| New Mexico | 323 | December | Sep–Jul |
| Nevada | 321 | June | May–Apr |
| Idaho | 314 | January | Nov–May |
| Alaska | 214 | June | May–Sep |
| Texas | 192 | January | Oct–May |
| Michigan | 134 | April | Nov–May |
| New York | 116 | November | Nov–Nov |
| South Dakota | 106 | July | May–Mar |
| Maryland | 83 | January | Jan–Mar |
| North Dakota | 65 | January | Sep–Jul |
| Minnesota | 64 | October | Oct–Apr |
| Illinois | 59 | November | Nov–Jan |
| Nebraska | 52 | June | Mar–Jul |
| Virginia | 45 | February | Nov–Feb |
| Vermont | 41 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Oklahoma | 39 | January | Nov–Jan |
| Wisconsin | 36 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Ohio | 34 | January | Jan–Jan |
| New Jersey | 30 | October | Oct–Nov |
| West Virginia | 28 | January | Jan–Mar |
| Indiana | 15 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Missouri | 15 | February | Dec–Feb |
| Kansas | 14 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Kentucky | 14 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Iowa | 13 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Connecticut | 12 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Mississippi | 12 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 11 | February | Feb–Mar |
| New Hampshire | 9 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Tennessee | 9 | December | Dec–Jan |
| Delaware | 8 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Maine | 8 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Louisiana | 6 | November | Oct–Nov |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
Red-tailed Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Northern Harrier
Mississippi Kite
Swainson's Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Golden Eagle?
Nationally, January has the most observations, with the main season from December to November.
Where is Golden Eagle most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Colorado, Pennsylvania.