Owls in New York in January
Yes, January is one of the best months to see owls in New York. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 688 of the 5,552 sightings logged across the year (12.4%), 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 June 28, 2026.
Peak month for owls in New York
12.4%
of yearly sightings
688
records in January
#1
busiest month of 12
5,552
verified records a year
December 10.5%, January 12.4%, February 11.5%. Busiest month is January at 12.4%.
5,552 verified observations of owls in New York, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When owls are recorded in New York
Peak month
January
688 records (12.4% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 688 | 12.4% |
| Februarypeak | 641 | 11.5% |
| March | 556 | 10% |
| Aprilpeak | 682 | 12.3% |
| May | 521 | 9.4% |
| June | 372 | 6.7% |
| July | 330 | 5.9% |
| August | 287 | 5.2% |
| September | 243 | 4.4% |
| October | 285 | 5.1% |
| November | 362 | 6.5% |
| December | 585 | 10.5% |
Owls you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Barred Owl | 1,785 |
| Great Horned Owl | 1,426 |
| Eastern Screech-Owl | 844 |
| Snowy Owl | 448 |
| Short-eared Owl | 342 |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | 268 |
| Long-eared Owl | 126 |
| Eurasian Eagle-Owl | 83 |
In New York, January carries 12.4% of the year's owls sightings, about 4.1 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 December (10.5%) into January, and it heads toward February (11.5%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so January is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The owls most often recorded in New York are Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl and Eastern Screech-Owl. Those counts are annual totals rather than a January split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in January itself.
Which owls you are most likely to see
- Barred Owl1,785 records
- Great Horned Owl1,426 records
- Eastern Screech-Owl844 records
- Snowy Owl448 records
- Short-eared Owl342 records
- Northern Saw-whet Owl268 records
Plan your owl trip in New York
Start with live tours near Appalachian National Scenic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
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Live tours nearbySee live tours near Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main owl viewing area.
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Stay nearbyStay near Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best owl viewing area in New York.
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Broader backupBook a owl tour in New York
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see owls in New York in January?+
Yes. January accounts for 688 of the 5,552 verified owls sightings logged in New York across the year, which is 12.4% of the annual total.
Is January a good time to see owls in New York?+
January is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of January, April and February.
What month is best for owls in New York?+
January is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through January, April and February, based on 5,552 verified observations.
Which owls are you most likely to see in New York?+
The most-recorded species in New York are Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl and Eastern Screech-Owl, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See owls in New York in other months
More places to see owls