Owls in Florida in May
Yes, May is one of the best months to see owls in Florida. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 2,174 of the 15,382 sightings logged across the year (14.1%), 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 Florida
14.1%
of yearly sightings
2,174
records in May
#2
busiest month of 12
15,382
verified records a year
April 14.9%, May 14.1%, June 8.6%. Busiest month is April at 14.9%.
15,382 verified observations of owls in Florida, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When owls are recorded in Florida
Peak month
April
2,295 records (14.9% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1,289 | 8.4% |
| February | 1,439 | 9.4% |
| Marchpeak | 2,119 | 13.8% |
| Aprilpeak | 2,295 | 14.9% |
| Maypeak | 2,174 | 14.1% |
| June | 1,320 | 8.6% |
| July | 804 | 5.2% |
| August | 770 | 5% |
| September | 728 | 4.7% |
| October | 720 | 4.7% |
| November | 763 | 5% |
| December | 961 | 6.2% |
Owls you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Barred Owl | 6,779 |
| Burrowing Owl | 3,425 |
| Great Horned Owl | 2,678 |
| Eastern Screech-Owl | 2,083 |
| American Barn Owl | 279 |
| Short-eared Owl | 36 |
| Snowy Owl | 19 |
| Long-eared Owl | 2 |
In Florida, May carries 14.1% of the year's owls sightings, about 5.8 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 holds steady between April and May, and it heads toward June (8.6%) 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 Florida are Barred Owl, Burrowing Owl and Great Horned 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
- Barred Owl6,779 records
- Burrowing Owl3,425 records
- Great Horned Owl2,678 records
- Eastern Screech-Owl2,083 records
- American Barn Owl279 records
- Short-eared Owl36 records
Plan your owl trip in Florida
Start with live tours near Big Cypress National Preserve, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Big Cypress National Preserve
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 Big Cypress National Preserve
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best owl viewing area in Florida.
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Broader backupBook a owl tour in Florida
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 Florida in May?+
Yes. May accounts for 2,174 of the 15,382 verified owls sightings logged in Florida across the year, which is 14.1% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see owls in Florida?+
May is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of April, May and March.
What month is best for owls in Florida?+
April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, May and March, based on 15,382 verified observations.
Which owls are you most likely to see in Florida?+
The most-recorded species in Florida are Barred Owl, Burrowing Owl and Great Horned Owl, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See owls in Florida in other months
More places to see owls
More wildlife in Florida