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Raptor Migration
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is one of the best places the northeastern United States to watch the annual hawk migration, one of nature's greatest wildlife spectacles. Between August 15 and December 15, an average 20,000 hawks, eagles and falcons pass the Sanctuary's North Lookout and are identified and counted.
Counts have been conducted continuously since the Sanctuary was founded in 1934, except for a three-year hiatus during World War II. The cumulative 71-year count represents the world's longest record of raptor populations, providing valuable information on changes in raptor numbers in northeastern North America. |
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Tips for Your First Autumn Hawkwatch
Begin your visit at the Sanctuary Visitor Center. Plan to spend about 30 minutes browsing the educational displays so you can learn about raptors, their migration, and their special conservation needs. Check out the Wings of Wonder Gallery, featuring 19 life-sized wood carvings of each migrating raptor that pass the Sanctuary to get an idea of each bird's approximate size and shape.
Consider purchasing a pocket-sized Flight Guide ($3.50), which will help you identify the different hawk, eagle and falcon species and will give you further information as you relax at a scenic overlook.
Consider a visit between September and November, when the largest number of hawks, eagles and falcons pass the Sanctuary. A smaller migration occurs each spring, between April and May.
Call the Info Line for an update on weather conditions (610-756-6000, opt 7). Remember, the very best flight days occur two to three days after the passage of a cold front, when northwest winds blow.
How many birds you may see in one day depends on: 1) the time of year and 2) the weather conditions. Calling the Info Line, and reviewing this information will help you plan a good visit.
Remember that Hawk Mountain is a non-profit organization and your trail fee helps to support the Sanctuary's conservation and education programs. Trail fees are collected in the Visitor Center. Members may proceed directly to the trail entrance.
If you purchase a Mountain Membership at the time of your visit, your trail admission will be free that day, and every day thereafter for one year (Purchase Membership). If you choose to purchase a membership at Hawk Mountain, you may do so in the Visitor Center.
Read our Calendar of Events before you arrive. If you visit on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, consider one of the Sanctuary's free weekend programs. "Raptors Up Close!" is particularly popular and held in the Outdoor Amphitheater, near the Visitor Center, spring and autumn.
Beginning Labor Day weekend, a conservation intern, educator or volunteer is stationed at South Lookout, just a 100-yard stroll from the Visitor Center. An official counter is stationed every day, Aug 15-Dec 15 at North Lookout (3/4-mile hike), the site of the official autumn hawkwatch. On weekends, educators also are located at both South and North Lookouts to help visitors identify hawks, eagles and falcons, and provide information on migration and Hawk Mountain's natural history.
For more information on how to plan your first trip, be sure to read our Visiting Us section. |
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Best times to see raptors
The types and numbers of raptors vary daily, depending on weather conditions and point in time, as illustrated by the chart below. Migration begins in mid-August with small numbers of several species, including American kestrels, ospreys and bald eagles. In mid-September large groups or "kettles" of broad-winged hawks pass in flocks that may number more than 1,000 birds.
The flight’s greatest variety comes in mid-October, with golden eagles, red-shouldered hawks and more. Gradually, the passage of birds diminishes until raptor migration essentially ends in mid-December, although migrating eagles, goshawks and rough-legged hawks have been sighted as late as early January.
A much smaller migration occurs each spring, peak numbers usually occurring near the end of the third week in April. |
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Best dates to see raptors
Number represent the percent probability. For example, in mid October, you have a 96 percent chance of seeing a sharp-shinned hawk. In early September, you have just over a 50% chance of seeing a bald eagle. |
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Species
 |
Aug.
15-30 |
Sept.
1-14 |
Sept.
15-30 |
Oct.
1-14 |
Oct.
15-31 |
Nov.
1-14 |
Nov.
15-30 |
Dec.
1-14 |
| Osprey |
57 |
87 |
89 |
73 |
29 |
4 |
1 |
<1 |
| Bald Eagle |
40 |
52 |
30 |
14 |
10 |
15 |
18 |
17 |
| Northern Harrier |
49 |
76 |
79 |
83 |
86 |
77 |
42 |
21 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk |
41 |
84 |
98 |
98 |
96 |
79 |
41 |
11 |
| Cooper's Hawk |
12 |
32 |
66 |
85 |
72 |
45 |
17 |
13 |
| Goshawk |
2 |
2 |
7 |
20 |
36 |
46 |
50 |
33 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk |
3 |
6 |
18 |
63 |
83 |
73 |
45 |
15 |
| Broad-winged Hawk |
87 |
94 |
94 |
42 |
4 |
<1 |
<<1 |
0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk |
39 |
51 |
66 |
88 |
96 |
96 |
88 |
79 |
| Rough-legged Hawk |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
12 |
21 |
18 |
21 |
| Golden Eagle |
0 |
3 |
10 |
27 |
45 |
50 |
42 |
26 |
| American Kestrel |
68 |
77 |
77 |
74 |
40 |
8 |
1 |
0 |
| Merlin |
3 |
8 |
20 |
42 |
28 |
5 |
1 |
<1 |
| Peregrine Falcon |
4 |
10 |
22 |
44 |
19 |
6 |
3 |
<1 |
| # of Poss. species |
12 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
12 | |
| Based on sixty years of data. |
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 Rather than flap their wings, raptors conserve energy during migration by soaring. There are two types of soaring: thermal and slope. Thermal soaring takes place when a raptor circles up and within a rising warm-air tunnel caused when the sun differentially heats the surface. Slope soaring occurs when raptors 'hitch' a ride on winds that are deflected upward by hills and mountains. |
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