Owls in Minnesota in March

Yes, March is a good month to see owls in Minnesota. It is the 6th busiest month of the year, with 486 of the 5,353 sightings logged across the year (9.1%), 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.

Snowy Owl photographed in MinnesotaSnowy Owl photographed in MinnesotaLong-eared Owl photographed in Minnesota
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for owls in Minnesota

9.1%

of yearly sightings

486

records in March

#6

busiest month of 12

5,353

verified records a year

February 19.4%, March 9.1%, April 10.9%. Busiest month is February at 19.4%.

Best months: February, January, April

5,353 verified observations of owls in Minnesota, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When owls are recorded in Minnesota

Peak month

February

1,037 records (19.4% of the year)

Quietest month

August

172 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak94817.7%
Februarypeak1,03719.4%
March4869.1%
Aprilpeak58110.9%
May5139.6%
June3005.6%
July1823.4%
August1723.2%
September1853.5%
October2083.9%
November2284.3%
December5139.6%

Owls you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Barred Owl1,710
Great Horned Owl1,002
Great Gray Owl811
Northern Hawk Owl467
Snowy Owl354
Boreal Owl225
Northern Saw-whet Owl208
Eastern Screech-Owl182

In Minnesota, March carries 9.1% of the year's owls sightings, about 0.8 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 6th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from February (19.4%) into March, and it heads toward April (10.9%) after. The busiest month is February (19.4%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The owls most often recorded in Minnesota are Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl and Great Gray 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 Owl1,710 records
  • Great Horned Owl1,002 records
  • Great Gray Owl811 records
  • Northern Hawk Owl467 records
  • Snowy Owl354 records
  • Boreal Owl225 records
Plan your tripGrand Portage National Monument

Plan your owl trip in Minnesota

Start with live tours near Grand Portage National Monument, 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 Minnesota in March?+

Yes. March accounts for 486 of the 5,353 verified owls sightings logged in Minnesota across the year, which is 9.1% of the annual total.

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

March is the 6th busiest month. It is workable, though February and January is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for owls in Minnesota?+

February is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through February, January and April, based on 5,353 verified observations.

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

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