Owls in Delaware in December
Yes, December is one of the best months to see owls in Delaware. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 91 of the 622 sightings logged across the year (14.6%), 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 Delaware
14.6%
of yearly sightings
91
records in December
#1
busiest month of 12
622
verified records a year
November 7.4%, December 14.6%, January 13.7%. Busiest month is December at 14.6%.
622 verified observations of owls in Delaware, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When owls are recorded in Delaware
Peak month
December
91 records (14.6% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 85 | 13.7% |
| February | 56 | 9% |
| March | 55 | 8.8% |
| Aprilpeak | 83 | 13.3% |
| May | 57 | 9.2% |
| June | 35 | 5.6% |
| July | 37 | 5.9% |
| August | 32 | 5.1% |
| September | 23 | 3.7% |
| October | 22 | 3.5% |
| November | 46 | 7.4% |
| Decemberpeak | 91 | 14.6% |
Owls you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Eastern Screech-Owl | 173 |
| Great Horned Owl | 149 |
| Barred Owl | 141 |
| Short-eared Owl | 90 |
| Snowy Owl | 43 |
| American Barn Owl | 15 |
| Long-eared Owl | 2 |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | 1 |
In Delaware, December carries 14.6% of the year's owls sightings, about 6.3 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 is rising from November (7.4%) into December, and it heads toward January (13.7%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so December is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The owls most often recorded in Delaware are Eastern Screech-Owl, Great Horned Owl and Barred Owl. Those counts are annual totals rather than a December split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in December itself.
Which owls you are most likely to see
- Eastern Screech-Owl173 records
- Great Horned Owl149 records
- Barred Owl141 records
- Short-eared Owl90 records
- Snowy Owl43 records
- American Barn Owl15 records
Plan your owl trip in Delaware
Start with live tours near Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
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Live tours nearbySee live tours near Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main owl viewing area.
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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see owls in Delaware in December?+
Yes. December accounts for 91 of the 622 verified owls sightings logged in Delaware across the year, which is 14.6% of the annual total.
Is December a good time to see owls in Delaware?+
December is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of December, January and April.
What month is best for owls in Delaware?+
December is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through December, January and April, based on 622 verified observations.
Which owls are you most likely to see in Delaware?+
The most-recorded species in Delaware are Eastern Screech-Owl, Great Horned Owl and Barred Owl, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See owls in Delaware in other months
More places to see owls
More wildlife in Delaware