Owls in Colorado in April

Yes, April is one of the best months to see owls in Colorado. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 796 of the 5,284 sightings logged across the year (15.1%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Northern Saw-whet Owl photographed in ColoradoBubo virginianus pinorum photographed in ColoradoMainland Northern Saw-whet Owl photographed in Colorado
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for owls in Colorado

15.1%

of yearly sightings

796

records in April

#2

busiest month of 12

5,284

verified records a year

March 6.8%, April 15.1%, May 15.9%. Busiest month is May at 15.9%.

Best months: May, April, June

5,284 verified observations of owls in Colorado, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When owls are recorded in Colorado

Peak month

May

840 records (15.9% of the year)

Quietest month

November

259 records

MonthObservationsShare
January3687%
February2885.5%
March3576.8%
Aprilpeak79615.1%
Maypeak84015.9%
Junepeak58011%
July4618.7%
August3997.6%
September3797.2%
October2885.5%
November2594.9%
December2695.1%

Owls you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Great Horned Owl3,505
Burrowing Owl730
Eastern Screech-Owl217
Long-eared Owl165
Northern Pygmy-Owl143
Northern Saw-whet Owl132
American Barn Owl109
Western Screech-Owl55

In Colorado, April carries 15.1% of the year's owls sightings, about 6.8 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 (6.8%) into April, and it heads toward May (15.9%) 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 Colorado are Great Horned Owl, Burrowing Owl and Eastern Screech-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 Owl3,505 records
  • Burrowing Owl730 records
  • Eastern Screech-Owl217 records
  • Long-eared Owl165 records
  • Northern Pygmy-Owl143 records
  • Northern Saw-whet Owl132 records
Plan your tripBent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Plan your owl trip in Colorado

Start with live tours near Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see owls in Colorado in April?+

Yes. April accounts for 796 of the 5,284 verified owls sightings logged in Colorado across the year, which is 15.1% of the annual total.

Is April a good time to see owls in Colorado?+

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 Colorado?+

May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, April and June, based on 5,284 verified observations.

Which owls are you most likely to see in Colorado?+

The most-recorded species in Colorado are Great Horned Owl, Burrowing Owl and Eastern Screech-Owl, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.