Bees in California in June
Yes, June is one of the best months to see bees in California. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 65,354 of the 402,242 sightings logged across the year (16.2%), 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 bees in California
16.2%
of yearly sightings
65,354
records in June
#3
busiest month of 12
402,242
verified records a year
May 18.4%, June 16.2%, July 11.8%. Busiest month is May at 18.4%.
402,242 verified observations of bees in California, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When bees are recorded in California
Peak month
May
73,981 records (18.4% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 7,198 | 1.8% |
| February | 13,400 | 3.3% |
| March | 36,163 | 9% |
| Aprilpeak | 71,406 | 17.8% |
| Maypeak | 73,981 | 18.4% |
| Junepeak | 65,354 | 16.2% |
| July | 47,268 | 11.8% |
| August | 34,004 | 8.5% |
| September | 24,402 | 6.1% |
| October | 15,886 | 3.9% |
| November | 7,993 | 2% |
| December | 5,187 | 1.3% |
Bees you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Western Honey Bee | 90,989 |
| Yellow-faced Bumble Bee | 33,342 |
| Black-tailed Bumble Bee | 13,135 |
| Valley Carpenter Bee | 12,275 |
| Horse-fly Carpenter Bee | 8,900 |
| Tripartite Sweat Bee | 7,733 |
| Fine striped sweat bee | 6,112 |
| California Bumble Bee | 6,078 |
In California, June carries 16.2% of the year's bees sightings, about 7.9 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is easing off from May (18.4%) into June, and it heads toward July (11.8%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so June is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The bees most often recorded in California are Western Honey Bee, Yellow-faced Bumble Bee and Black-tailed Bumble Bee. Those counts are annual totals rather than a June split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in June itself.
Which bees you are most likely to see
- Western Honey Bee90,989 records
- Yellow-faced Bumble Bee33,342 records
- Black-tailed Bumble Bee13,135 records
- Valley Carpenter Bee12,275 records
- Horse-fly Carpenter Bee8,900 records
- Tripartite Sweat Bee7,733 records
Plan your bee trip in California
Start with live tours near Alcatraz Island, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Alcatraz Island
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main bee viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near Alcatraz Island
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best bee viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a bee tour in California
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see bees in California in June?+
Yes. June accounts for 65,354 of the 402,242 verified bees sightings logged in California across the year, which is 16.2% of the annual total.
Is June a good time to see bees in California?+
June is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of May, April and June.
What month is best for bees in California?+
May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, April and June, based on 402,242 verified observations.
Which bees are you most likely to see in California?+
The most-recorded species in California are Western Honey Bee, Yellow-faced Bumble Bee and Black-tailed Bumble Bee, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See bees in California in other months
More wildlife in California