Owls in Colorado in May
Yes, May is one of the best months to see owls in Colorado. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 840 of the 5,284 sightings logged across the year (15.9%), 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 owls in Colorado
15.9%
of yearly sightings
840
records in May
#1
busiest month of 12
5,284
verified records a year
April 15.1%, May 15.9%, June 11%. Busiest month is May at 15.9%.
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)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 368 | 7% |
| February | 288 | 5.5% |
| March | 357 | 6.8% |
| Aprilpeak | 796 | 15.1% |
| Maypeak | 840 | 15.9% |
| Junepeak | 580 | 11% |
| July | 461 | 8.7% |
| August | 399 | 7.6% |
| September | 379 | 7.2% |
| October | 288 | 5.5% |
| November | 259 | 4.9% |
| December | 269 | 5.1% |
Owls you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Great Horned Owl | 3,505 |
| Burrowing Owl | 730 |
| Eastern Screech-Owl | 217 |
| Long-eared Owl | 165 |
| Northern Pygmy-Owl | 143 |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | 132 |
| American Barn Owl | 109 |
| Western Screech-Owl | 55 |
In Colorado, May carries 15.9% of the year's owls sightings, about 7.6 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 (11%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so May 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 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 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 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.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
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 Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best owl viewing area in Colorado.
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Broader backupBook a owl tour in Colorado
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
Can you see owls in Colorado in May?+
Yes. May accounts for 840 of the 5,284 verified owls sightings logged in Colorado across the year, which is 15.9% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see owls in Colorado?+
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 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.
See owls in Colorado in other months
More places to see owls
More wildlife in Colorado