Owls in Maryland in March

Yes, March is one of the best months to see owls in Maryland. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 405 of the 3,656 sightings logged across the year (11.1%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

T

By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Eastern Screech-Owl photographed in MarylandGreat Horned Owl photographed in MarylandBurrowing Owl photographed in Maryland
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for owls in Maryland

11.1%

of yearly sightings

405

records in March

#3

busiest month of 12

3,656

verified records a year

February 10.3%, March 11.1%, April 14.3%. Busiest month is April at 14.3%.

Best months: April, May, March

3,656 verified observations of owls in Maryland, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When owls are recorded in Maryland

Peak month

April

522 records (14.3% of the year)

Quietest month

August

170 records

MonthObservationsShare
January3108.5%
February37610.3%
Marchpeak40511.1%
Aprilpeak52214.3%
Maypeak42111.5%
June3289%
July2406.6%
August1704.6%
September1865.1%
October2105.7%
November2206%
December2687.3%

Owls you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Barred Owl2,019
Great Horned Owl574
Eastern Screech-Owl409
Short-eared Owl220
Snowy Owl156
Northern Saw-whet Owl134
American Barn Owl66
Long-eared Owl20

In Maryland, March carries 11.1% of the year's owls sightings, about 2.8 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 holds steady between February and March, and it heads toward April (14.3%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so March is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

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

Which owls you are most likely to see

  • Barred Owl2,019 records
  • Great Horned Owl574 records
  • Eastern Screech-Owl409 records
  • Short-eared Owl220 records
  • Snowy Owl156 records
  • Northern Saw-whet Owl134 records
Plan your tripAntietam National Battlefield

Plan your owl trip in Maryland

Start with live tours near Antietam National Battlefield, 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 Maryland in March?+

Yes. March accounts for 405 of the 3,656 verified owls sightings logged in Maryland across the year, which is 11.1% of the annual total.

Is March a good time to see owls in Maryland?+

March is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of April, May and March.

What month is best for owls in Maryland?+

April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, May and March, based on 3,656 verified observations.

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

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