Owls in Delaware in January

Yes, January is one of the best months to see owls in Delaware. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 85 of the 622 sightings logged across the year (13.7%), 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 July 2, 2026.

Peak month for owls in Delaware

13.7%

of yearly sightings

85

records in January

#2

busiest month of 12

622

verified records a year

December 14.6%, January 13.7%, February 9%. Busiest month is December at 14.6%.

Best months: December, January, April

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)

Quietest month

October

22 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak8513.7%
February569%
March558.8%
Aprilpeak8313.3%
May579.2%
June355.6%
July375.9%
August325.1%
September233.7%
October223.5%
November467.4%
Decemberpeak9114.6%

Owls you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Eastern Screech-Owl173
Great Horned Owl149
Barred Owl141
Short-eared Owl90
Snowy Owl43
American Barn Owl15
Long-eared Owl2
Northern Saw-whet Owl1

In Delaware, January carries 13.7% of the year's owls sightings, about 5.4 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 holds steady between December and January, and it heads toward February (9%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so January 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 January split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in January 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 tripCaptain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

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.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see owls in Delaware in January?+

Yes. January accounts for 85 of the 622 verified owls sightings logged in Delaware across the year, which is 13.7% of the annual total.

Is January a good time to see owls in Delaware?+

January is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd 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.