Owls in Arizona in March

Yes, March is a good month to see owls in Arizona. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 669 of the 7,515 sightings logged across the year (8.9%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Great Horned Owl photographed in ArizonaBurrowing Owl photographed in ArizonaElf Owl photographed in Arizona
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for owls in Arizona

8.9%

of yearly sightings

669

records in March

#4

busiest month of 12

7,515

verified records a year

February 6.1%, March 8.9%, April 14%. Busiest month is May at 14.9%.

Best months: May, April, June

7,515 verified observations of owls in Arizona, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When owls are recorded in Arizona

Peak month

May

1,118 records (14.9% of the year)

Quietest month

November

338 records

MonthObservationsShare
January5857.8%
February4576.1%
March6698.9%
Aprilpeak1,05514%
Maypeak1,11814.9%
Junepeak78910.5%
July6638.8%
August5857.8%
September3915.2%
October4015.3%
November3384.5%
December4646.2%

Owls you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Great Horned Owl3,321
Burrowing Owl1,020
Western Screech-Owl1,014
Elf Owl412
Spotted Owl375
American Barn Owl325
Whiskered Screech-Owl292
Northern Pygmy-Owl262

In Arizona, March carries 8.9% of the year's owls sightings, about 0.6 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 4th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from February (6.1%) into March, and it heads toward April (14%) after. The busiest month is May (14.9%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The owls most often recorded in Arizona are Great Horned Owl, Burrowing Owl and Western Screech-Owl. Those counts are annual totals rather than a March split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in March itself.

Which owls you are most likely to see

  • Great Horned Owl3,321 records
  • Burrowing Owl1,020 records
  • Western Screech-Owl1,014 records
  • Elf Owl412 records
  • Spotted Owl375 records
  • American Barn Owl325 records
Plan your tripChiricahua National Monument

Plan your owl trip in Arizona

Start with live tours near Chiricahua National Monument, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see owls in Arizona in March?+

Yes. March accounts for 669 of the 7,515 verified owls sightings logged in Arizona across the year, which is 8.9% of the annual total.

Is March a good time to see owls in Arizona?+

March is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though May and April is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for owls in Arizona?+

May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, April and June, based on 7,515 verified observations.

Which owls are you most likely to see in Arizona?+

The most-recorded species in Arizona are Great Horned Owl, Burrowing Owl and Western Screech-Owl, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.