Owls in New Mexico in April

Yes, April is one of the best months to see owls in New Mexico. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 344 of the 2,296 sightings logged across the year (15%), 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 July 2, 2026.

Burrowing Owl photographed in New MexicoWestern Screech-Owl photographed in New MexicoBoreal Owl photographed in New Mexico
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for owls in New Mexico

15%

of yearly sightings

344

records in April

#1

busiest month of 12

2,296

verified records a year

March 7.4%, April 15%, May 14.4%. Busiest month is April at 15%.

Best months: April, May, June

2,296 verified observations of owls in New Mexico, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When owls are recorded in New Mexico

Peak month

April

344 records (15% of the year)

Quietest month

November

103 records

MonthObservationsShare
January1345.8%
February1335.8%
March1717.4%
Aprilpeak34415%
Maypeak33014.4%
Junepeak29512.8%
July2058.9%
August1516.6%
September1617%
October1526.6%
November1034.5%
December1175.1%

Owls you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Great Horned Owl1,118
Burrowing Owl342
Western Screech-Owl338
American Barn Owl107
Spotted Owl81
Northern Pygmy-Owl79
Long-eared Owl66
Flammulated Owl58

In New Mexico, April carries 15% of the year's owls sightings, about 6.7 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 March (7.4%) into April, and it heads toward May (14.4%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so April is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

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

Which owls you are most likely to see

  • Great Horned Owl1,118 records
  • Burrowing Owl342 records
  • Western Screech-Owl338 records
  • American Barn Owl107 records
  • Spotted Owl81 records
  • Northern Pygmy-Owl79 records
Plan your tripBandelier National Monument

Plan your owl trip in New Mexico

Start with live tours near Bandelier 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 New Mexico in April?+

Yes. April accounts for 344 of the 2,296 verified owls sightings logged in New Mexico across the year, which is 15% of the annual total.

Is April a good time to see owls in New Mexico?+

April is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of April, May and June.

What month is best for owls in New Mexico?+

April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, May and June, based on 2,296 verified observations.

Which owls are you most likely to see in New Mexico?+

The most-recorded species in New Mexico are Great Horned Owl, Burrowing Owl and Western Screech-Owl, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.