Best Time to See Owls in the US
April, May and March is the best time to see owls in the United States. This is a national picture built from 210,947 verified iNaturalist observations across 50 states, showing when and where owls are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
210,947 verified observations of owls in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When owls are recorded in the US
Peak month
April
26,974 records (12.8% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 18,731 | 8.9% |
| February | 17,208 | 8.2% |
| Marchpeak | 20,222 | 9.6% |
| Aprilpeak | 26,974 | 12.8% |
| Maypeak | 26,180 | 12.4% |
| June | 19,949 | 9.5% |
| July | 15,013 | 7.1% |
| August | 13,390 | 6.3% |
| September | 12,627 | 6% |
| October | 12,377 | 5.9% |
| November | 12,845 | 6.1% |
| December | 15,431 | 7.3% |
Owls you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Great Horned Owl | 68,675 |
| Barred Owl | 58,268 |
| Eastern Screech-Owl | 18,841 |
| Burrowing Owl | 17,360 |
| American Barn Owl | 10,912 |
| Short-eared Owl | 5,904 |
| Western Screech-Owl | 5,511 |
| Snowy Owl | 4,653 |
Across the country, owls sightings peak in April, when 26,974 of the 210,947 annual observations are logged, about 12.8% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through April, May and March.
The best states to see owls by recorded sightings are California (46,797), Texas (25,085), Florida (15,382), Washington (8,614) and Arizona (7,515). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The owls you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl and Eastern Screech-Owl, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see owls
- owls in California46,797 sightings, peak May
- owls in Texas25,085 sightings, peak April
- owls in Florida15,382 sightings, peak April
- owls in Washington8,614 sightings, peak June
- owls in Arizona7,515 sightings, peak May
- owls in Oregon7,224 sightings, peak May
- owls in Massachusetts6,245 sightings, peak May
- owls in Ohio6,089 sightings, peak May
- owls in New York5,552 sightings, peak January
- owls in Minnesota5,353 sightings, peak February
- owls in Colorado5,284 sightings, peak May
- owls in North Carolina4,727 sightings, peak April
- owls in Virginia4,530 sightings, peak April
- owls in Illinois4,215 sightings, peak April
- owls in Pennsylvania3,740 sightings, peak April
Most-recorded owls species nationwide
- Great Horned Owl68,675 records
- Barred Owl58,268 records
- Eastern Screech-Owl18,841 records
- Burrowing Owl17,360 records
- American Barn Owl10,912 records
- Short-eared Owl5,904 records
Plan your owl trip in California
Start with live tours near California, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near California
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main owl viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best owl viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a owl tour in California
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
When is the best time to see owls in the US?+
April is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through April, May and March, based on 210,947 verified observations across 50 states.
Which states are best for seeing owls?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, Texas and Florida. California leads with 46,797 verified observations.
How many owls sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 210,947 verified owls observations are logged on iNaturalist across 50 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of owls live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl and Eastern Screech-Owl, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.