The hawksbill occurs in tropical and subtropical seas of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Within the United States, hawksbills are most common in Puerto Rico and its associated islands, and in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In the continental U.S., the species is recorded from all the gulf states and from along the eastern seaboard as far north as Massachusetts, with the exception of Connecticut, but sightings north of Florida are rare. Hawksbills are observed in Florida with some regularity on the reefs off Palm Beach County, where the warm Gulf Stream current passes close to shore, and in the Florida Keys. Texas is the only other state where hawksbills are sighted with any regularity.
Most sightings involve posthatchlings and juveniles.
These small turtles are believed to originate from nesting beaches in Mexico. Nesting within the southeastern United States occurs principally in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the most important sites being Mona Island and Buck Island. Nesting also occurs on other beaches of St. Croix, and on Culebra Island, Vieques Island, mainland Puerto Rico, St. John and St. Thomas. Within the continental United States, nesting is restricted to the southeast coast of Florida and Florida Keys. In the U.S. Pacific Ocean, there have been no hawksbill sightings off the west coast.