Bees in California in May
Yes, May is one of the best months to see bees in California. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 73,981 of the 402,242 sightings logged across the year (18.4%), 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
18.4%
of yearly sightings
73,981
records in May
#1
busiest month of 12
402,242
verified records a year
April 17.8%, May 18.4%, June 16.2%. 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, May carries 18.4% of the year's bees sightings, about 10.1 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 (16.2%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so May 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 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 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 May?+
Yes. May accounts for 73,981 of the 402,242 verified bees sightings logged in California across the year, which is 18.4% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see bees in California?+
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 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