Owls in Nebraska in May
Yes, May is one of the best months to see owls in Nebraska. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 159 of the 857 sightings logged across the year (18.6%), 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 July 2, 2026.
Peak month for owls in Nebraska
18.6%
of yearly sightings
159
records in May
#1
busiest month of 12
857
verified records a year
April 13.8%, May 18.6%, June 12.3%. Busiest month is May at 18.6%.
857 verified observations of owls in Nebraska, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When owls are recorded in Nebraska
Peak month
May
159 records (18.6% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 51 | 6% |
| February | 44 | 5.1% |
| March | 74 | 8.6% |
| Aprilpeak | 118 | 13.8% |
| Maypeak | 159 | 18.6% |
| Junepeak | 105 | 12.3% |
| July | 81 | 9.5% |
| August | 39 | 4.6% |
| September | 46 | 5.4% |
| October | 45 | 5.3% |
| November | 40 | 4.7% |
| December | 55 | 6.4% |
Owls you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Great Horned Owl | 270 |
| Barred Owl | 190 |
| Eastern Screech-Owl | 162 |
| Burrowing Owl | 118 |
| Long-eared Owl | 41 |
| Short-eared Owl | 27 |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | 17 |
| American Barn Owl | 16 |
In Nebraska, May carries 18.6% of the year's owls sightings, about 10.3 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 April (13.8%) into May, and it heads toward June (12.3%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so May is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The owls most often recorded in Nebraska are Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl and Eastern Screech-Owl. Those counts are annual totals rather than a May split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in May itself.
Which owls you are most likely to see
- Great Horned Owl270 records
- Barred Owl190 records
- Eastern Screech-Owl162 records
- Burrowing Owl118 records
- Long-eared Owl41 records
- Short-eared Owl27 records
Plan your owl trip in Nebraska
Start with live tours near Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
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Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main owl viewing area.
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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see owls in Nebraska in May?+
Yes. May accounts for 159 of the 857 verified owls sightings logged in Nebraska across the year, which is 18.6% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see owls in Nebraska?+
May is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of May, April and June.
What month is best for owls in Nebraska?+
May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, April and June, based on 857 verified observations.
Which owls are you most likely to see in Nebraska?+
The most-recorded species in Nebraska are Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl and Eastern Screech-Owl, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See owls in Nebraska in other months
More places to see owls
More wildlife in Nebraska