Best Time to See Owls in Nevada
May, June and April is the best time to see owls in Nevada. Based on 1,371 verified iNaturalist observations, here is exactly when owls are most active across the year in Nevada.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 2, 2026.
Burrowing Owl · Matt Berger CC BY
Burrowing Owl · Wendy McCrady CC BY
Great Horned Owl · Jim Dreier CC BY
1,371 verified observations of owls in Nevada, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When owls are recorded in Nevada
Peak month
May
227 records (16.6% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 93 | 6.8% |
| February | 71 | 5.2% |
| March | 108 | 7.9% |
| Aprilpeak | 170 | 12.4% |
| Maypeak | 227 | 16.6% |
| Junepeak | 180 | 13.1% |
| July | 82 | 6% |
| August | 76 | 5.5% |
| September | 109 | 8% |
| October | 115 | 8.4% |
| November | 65 | 4.7% |
| December | 75 | 5.5% |
Owls you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Great Horned Owl | 830 |
| Burrowing Owl | 266 |
| Long-eared Owl | 110 |
| American Barn Owl | 55 |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | 30 |
| Western Screech-Owl | 24 |
| Short-eared Owl | 13 |
| Flammulated Owl | 8 |
Weather to expect, source Open-Meteo
Typical weather in Nevada
Recent typical conditions by month, so you can plan a trip around both when owls are active and what the weather is doing. The best months to look for owls sit around 31 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, so pack for that.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 16°F | 1.2" |
| Feb | 32°F | 16°F | 0.9" |
| Mar | 37°F | 21°F | 1.6" |
| Aprbest time | 51°F | 31°F | 0.6" |
| Maybest time | 60°F | 39°F | 1.1" |
| Junbest time | 72°F | 50°F | 0.3" |
| Jul | 82°F | 59°F | 0.3" |
| Aug | 79°F | 57°F | 1.2" |
| Sep | 71°F | 50°F | 0.6" |
| Oct | 57°F | 36°F | 0.2" |
| Nov | 44°F | 26°F | 0.8" |
| Dec | 33°F | 18°F | 1.2" |
Typical recent conditions (5-year means) from the Open-Meteo archive, averaged for Nevada. Weather varies year to year, so treat these as a guide.
More on owls in Nevada:
Sightings of owls in Nevada peak in May, when 227 of the year's 1,371 verified observations are logged — about 16.6% of the annual total. Activity stays high through May, June and April.
The quietest stretch is November, February and December, when owls are hardest to find — November sees just 65 records. If a reliable sighting matters, plan around the peak window rather than the off-season.
The owls you are most likely to encounter in Nevada are Great Horned Owl, Burrowing Owl and Long-eared Owl — the most-recorded species in the state. Each keeps its own seasonal rhythm, but the month-by-month pattern above reflects every reported sighting together.
Where to go
Best places to see owls in Nevada
- Death Valley National Park — National Park
- Great Basin National Park — National Park
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area — National Recreation Area
- Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument — National Monument
- California National Historic Trail — National Historic Trail
- Old Spanish National Historic Trail — National Historic Trail
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to see owls in Nevada?+
May is the single best month, and the broader peak window runs through May, June and April, based on 1,371 verified iNaturalist observations.
When are owls hardest to see in Nevada?+
November is the quietest month for owls in Nevada, with only 65 verified records.
Are owls active year-round in Nevada?+
Owls are recorded in 12 of 12 months in Nevada, so they can be seen year-round, with a clear peak in May.
More places to see owls
More wildlife in Nevada