Owls in Indiana in December
Yes, December is a good month to see owls in Indiana. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 141 of the 1,561 sightings logged across the year (9%), 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.
Good month for owls in Indiana
9%
of yearly sightings
141
records in December
#5
busiest month of 12
1,561
verified records a year
November 5.7%, December 9%, January 9.2%. Busiest month is April at 14.3%.
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)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 143 | 9.2% |
| February | 122 | 7.8% |
| Marchpeak | 156 | 10% |
| Aprilpeak | 223 | 14.3% |
| Maypeak | 201 | 12.9% |
| June | 136 | 8.7% |
| July | 83 | 5.3% |
| August | 80 | 5.1% |
| September | 90 | 5.8% |
| October | 97 | 6.2% |
| November | 89 | 5.7% |
| December | 141 | 9% |
Owls you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Barred Owl | 703 |
| Great Horned Owl | 345 |
| Eastern Screech-Owl | 235 |
| Short-eared Owl | 116 |
| Snowy Owl | 60 |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | 36 |
| American Barn Owl | 17 |
| Long-eared Owl | 12 |
In Indiana, December carries 9% of the year's owls sightings, about 0.7 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 5th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is rising from November (5.7%) into December, and it heads toward January (9.2%) after. The busiest month is April (14.3%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
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 December split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in December 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 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.
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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see owls in Indiana in December?+
Yes. December accounts for 141 of the 1,561 verified owls sightings logged in Indiana across the year, which is 9% of the annual total.
Is December a good time to see owls in Indiana?+
December is the 5th busiest month. It is workable, though April and May is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
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.
See owls in Indiana in other months
More places to see owls
More wildlife in Indiana