Owls in California in April
Yes, April is one of the best months to see owls in California. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 4,869 of the 46,797 sightings logged across the year (10.4%), 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 July 2, 2026.
Peak month for owls in California
10.4%
of yearly sightings
4,869
records in April
#2
busiest month of 12
46,797
verified records a year
March 8.3%, April 10.4%, May 10.4%. Busiest month is May at 10.4%.
46,797 verified observations of owls in California, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When owls are recorded in California
Peak month
May
4,877 records (10.4% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 4,197 | 9% |
| February | 3,518 | 7.5% |
| March | 3,878 | 8.3% |
| Aprilpeak | 4,869 | 10.4% |
| Maypeak | 4,877 | 10.4% |
| Junepeak | 4,410 | 9.4% |
| July | 3,756 | 8% |
| August | 3,616 | 7.7% |
| September | 3,699 | 7.9% |
| October | 3,379 | 7.2% |
| November | 3,158 | 6.7% |
| December | 3,440 | 7.4% |
Owls you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Great Horned Owl | 25,720 |
| American Barn Owl | 6,947 |
| Burrowing Owl | 6,334 |
| Western Screech-Owl | 2,756 |
| Long-eared Owl | 811 |
| Spotted Owl | 732 |
| Northern Pygmy-Owl | 731 |
| Short-eared Owl | 581 |
In California, April carries 10.4% of the year's owls sightings, about 2.1 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 2nd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is rising from March (8.3%) into April, and it heads toward May (10.4%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so April is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The owls most often recorded in California are Great Horned Owl, American Barn Owl and Burrowing Owl. Those counts are annual totals rather than a April split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in April itself.
Which owls you are most likely to see
- Great Horned Owl25,720 records
- American Barn Owl6,947 records
- Burrowing Owl6,334 records
- Western Screech-Owl2,756 records
- Long-eared Owl811 records
- Spotted Owl732 records
Plan your owl 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 owl viewing area.
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Stay nearbyStay near Alcatraz Island
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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see owls in California in April?+
Yes. April accounts for 4,869 of the 46,797 verified owls sightings logged in California across the year, which is 10.4% of the annual total.
Is April a good time to see owls in California?+
April is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of May, April and June.
What month is best for owls in California?+
May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, April and June, based on 46,797 verified observations.
Which owls are you most likely to see in California?+
The most-recorded species in California are Great Horned Owl, American Barn Owl and Burrowing Owl, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See owls in California in other months
More places to see owls
More wildlife in California