Owls in Indiana in April

Yes, April is one of the best months to see owls in Indiana. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 223 of the 1,561 sightings logged across the year (14.3%), 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 June 28, 2026.

Short-eared Owl photographed in IndianaShort-eared Owl photographed in IndianaShort-eared Owl photographed in Indiana
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for owls in Indiana

14.3%

of yearly sightings

223

records in April

#1

busiest month of 12

1,561

verified records a year

March 10%, April 14.3%, May 12.9%. Busiest month is April at 14.3%.

Best months: April, May, March

1,561 verified observations of owls in Indiana, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When owls are recorded in Indiana

Peak month

April

223 records (14.3% of the year)

Quietest month

August

80 records

MonthObservationsShare
January1439.2%
February1227.8%
Marchpeak15610%
Aprilpeak22314.3%
Maypeak20112.9%
June1368.7%
July835.3%
August805.1%
September905.8%
October976.2%
November895.7%
December1419%

Owls you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Barred Owl703
Great Horned Owl345
Eastern Screech-Owl235
Short-eared Owl116
Snowy Owl60
Northern Saw-whet Owl36
American Barn Owl17
Long-eared Owl12

In Indiana, April carries 14.3% of the year's owls sightings, about 6 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 March (10%) into April, and it heads toward May (12.9%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so April is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The owls most often recorded in Indiana are Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl and Eastern Screech-Owl. Those counts are annual totals rather than a April split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in April itself.

Which owls you are most likely to see

  • Barred Owl703 records
  • Great Horned Owl345 records
  • Eastern Screech-Owl235 records
  • Short-eared Owl116 records
  • Snowy Owl60 records
  • Northern Saw-whet Owl36 records
Plan your tripIndiana Dunes National Park

Plan your owl trip in Indiana

Start with live tours near Indiana Dunes National Park, 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 Indiana in April?+

Yes. April accounts for 223 of the 1,561 verified owls sightings logged in Indiana across the year, which is 14.3% of the annual total.

Is April a good time to see owls in Indiana?+

April is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of April, May and March.

What month is best for owls in Indiana?+

April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, May and March, based on 1,561 verified observations.

Which owls are you most likely to see in Indiana?+

The most-recorded species in Indiana are Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl and Eastern Screech-Owl, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.