Owls in Delaware in May
Yes, May is a good month to see owls in Delaware. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 57 of the 622 sightings logged across the year (9.2%), 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.
Good month for owls in Delaware
9.2%
of yearly sightings
57
records in May
#4
busiest month of 12
622
verified records a year
April 13.3%, May 9.2%, June 5.6%. 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, May carries 9.2% of the year's owls sightings, about 0.9 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 4th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is easing off from April (13.3%) into May, and it heads toward June (5.6%) after. The busiest month is December (14.6%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
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 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
- 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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Stay nearbyStay near Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best owl viewing area in Delaware.
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Broader backupBook a owl tour in Delaware
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 Delaware in May?+
Yes. May accounts for 57 of the 622 verified owls sightings logged in Delaware across the year, which is 9.2% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see owls in Delaware?+
May is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though December and January is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
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