Owls in Illinois in May
Yes, May is one of the best months to see owls in Illinois. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 478 of the 4,215 sightings logged across the year (11.3%), 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 Illinois
11.3%
of yearly sightings
478
records in May
#3
busiest month of 12
4,215
verified records a year
April 16.8%, May 11.3%, June 6%. Busiest month is April at 16.8%.
4,215 verified observations of owls in Illinois, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When owls are recorded in Illinois
Peak month
April
708 records (16.8% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 489 | 11.6% |
| February | 339 | 8% |
| March | 427 | 10.1% |
| Aprilpeak | 708 | 16.8% |
| Maypeak | 478 | 11.3% |
| June | 255 | 6% |
| July | 171 | 4.1% |
| August | 218 | 5.2% |
| September | 186 | 4.4% |
| October | 198 | 4.7% |
| November | 381 | 9% |
| December | 365 | 8.7% |
Owls you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Great Horned Owl | 1,620 |
| Barred Owl | 1,201 |
| Eastern Screech-Owl | 307 |
| Snowy Owl | 282 |
| Long-eared Owl | 263 |
| Short-eared Owl | 256 |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | 127 |
| American Barn Owl | 47 |
In Illinois, May carries 11.3% of the year's owls sightings, about 3 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is easing off from April (16.8%) into May, and it heads toward June (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 Illinois are Great Horned Owl, Barred 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 Owl1,620 records
- Barred Owl1,201 records
- Eastern Screech-Owl307 records
- Snowy Owl282 records
- Long-eared Owl263 records
- Short-eared Owl256 records
Plan your owl trip in Illinois
Start with live tours near Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Lewis & Clark 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 Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best owl viewing area in Illinois.
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Broader backupBook a owl tour in Illinois
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 Illinois in May?+
Yes. May accounts for 478 of the 4,215 verified owls sightings logged in Illinois across the year, which is 11.3% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see owls in Illinois?+
May is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of April, January and May.
What month is best for owls in Illinois?+
April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, January and May, based on 4,215 verified observations.
Which owls are you most likely to see in Illinois?+
The most-recorded species in Illinois are Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl and Eastern Screech-Owl, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See owls in Illinois in other months
More places to see owls
More wildlife in Illinois