Owls in Iowa in February
Yes, February is a good month to see owls in Iowa. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 92 of the 986 sightings logged across the year (9.3%), 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.
Good month for owls in Iowa
9.3%
of yearly sightings
92
records in February
#4
busiest month of 12
986
verified records a year
January 6.7%, February 9.3%, March 8.5%. Busiest month is May at 15.7%.
986 verified observations of owls in Iowa, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When owls are recorded in Iowa
Peak month
May
155 records (15.7% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 66 | 6.7% |
| February | 92 | 9.3% |
| March | 84 | 8.5% |
| Aprilpeak | 150 | 15.2% |
| Maypeak | 155 | 15.7% |
| Junepeak | 94 | 9.5% |
| July | 68 | 6.9% |
| August | 54 | 5.5% |
| September | 53 | 5.4% |
| October | 43 | 4.4% |
| November | 50 | 5.1% |
| December | 77 | 7.8% |
Owls you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Barred Owl | 606 |
| Great Horned Owl | 181 |
| Short-eared Owl | 58 |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | 34 |
| Eastern Screech-Owl | 31 |
| Snowy Owl | 26 |
| Long-eared Owl | 18 |
| American Barn Owl | 8 |
In Iowa, February carries 9.3% of the year's owls sightings, about 1 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 rising from January (6.7%) into February, and it heads toward March (8.5%) after. The busiest month is May (15.7%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
The owls most often recorded in Iowa are Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl and Short-eared Owl. Those counts are annual totals rather than a February split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in February itself.
Which owls you are most likely to see
- Barred Owl606 records
- Great Horned Owl181 records
- Short-eared Owl58 records
- Northern Saw-whet Owl34 records
- Eastern Screech-Owl31 records
- Snowy Owl26 records
Plan your owl trip in Iowa
Start with live tours near Effigy Mounds National Monument, 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 Iowa in February?+
Yes. February accounts for 92 of the 986 verified owls sightings logged in Iowa across the year, which is 9.3% of the annual total.
Is February a good time to see owls in Iowa?+
February is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though May and April is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
What month is best for owls in Iowa?+
May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, April and June, based on 986 verified observations.
Which owls are you most likely to see in Iowa?+
The most-recorded species in Iowa are Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl and Short-eared Owl, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See owls in Iowa in other months
More places to see owls
More wildlife in Iowa