Owls in Arizona in May
Yes, May is one of the best months to see owls in Arizona. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 1,118 of the 7,515 sightings logged across the year (14.9%), 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 owls in Arizona
14.9%
of yearly sightings
1,118
records in May
#1
busiest month of 12
7,515
verified records a year
April 14%, May 14.9%, June 10.5%. Busiest month is May at 14.9%.
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)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 585 | 7.8% |
| February | 457 | 6.1% |
| March | 669 | 8.9% |
| Aprilpeak | 1,055 | 14% |
| Maypeak | 1,118 | 14.9% |
| Junepeak | 789 | 10.5% |
| July | 663 | 8.8% |
| August | 585 | 7.8% |
| September | 391 | 5.2% |
| October | 401 | 5.3% |
| November | 338 | 4.5% |
| December | 464 | 6.2% |
Owls you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Great Horned Owl | 3,321 |
| Burrowing Owl | 1,020 |
| Western Screech-Owl | 1,014 |
| Elf Owl | 412 |
| Spotted Owl | 375 |
| American Barn Owl | 325 |
| Whiskered Screech-Owl | 292 |
| Northern Pygmy-Owl | 262 |
In Arizona, May carries 14.9% of the year's owls sightings, about 6.6 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 1st busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity holds steady between April and May, and it heads toward June (10.5%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so May is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
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 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 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 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.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Chiricahua National Monument
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main owl viewing area.
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Stay nearbyStay near Chiricahua National Monument
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best owl viewing area in Arizona.
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Broader backupBook a owl tour in Arizona
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see owls in Arizona in May?+
Yes. May accounts for 1,118 of the 7,515 verified owls sightings logged in Arizona across the year, which is 14.9% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see owls in Arizona?+
May is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of May, April and June.
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.
See owls in Arizona in other months
More places to see owls
More wildlife in Arizona