Owls in New York in May
Yes, May is a good month to see owls in New York. It is the 6th busiest month of the year, with 521 of the 5,552 sightings logged across the year (9.4%), 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.
Good month for owls in New York
9.4%
of yearly sightings
521
records in May
#6
busiest month of 12
5,552
verified records a year
April 12.3%, May 9.4%, June 6.7%. 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, May carries 9.4% of the year's owls sightings, about 1.1 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 April (12.3%) into May, and it heads toward June (6.7%) after. The busiest month is January (12.4%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
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 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
- 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.
GetYourGuide
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 May?+
Yes. May accounts for 521 of the 5,552 verified owls sightings logged in New York across the year, which is 9.4% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see owls in New York?+
May is the 6th busiest month. It is workable, though January and April is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
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