Owls in Pennsylvania: where to see them and how to identify them
Yes, Pennsylvania has a healthy population of owls. You can find great horned, barred, and screech owls across the state. The best strategy is to visit dense woodlands near water at dusk. Start with any of the large state forests or game lands. For more, visit our [Pennsylvania wildlife page](/wildlife/pennsylvania).
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.
Great Horned Owl · George Pushkal CC BY
Great Horned Owl · Bill Keim CC BY
Northern Hawk Owl · Ali Campbell CC BY
- 8
- species recorded
- 117,133
- GBIF records
- 6
- birding hotspots
- April, May, March
- peak months
Yes, owls are in Pennsylvania. Next you'll want:
What owl sound like
Verified field recordings from Xeno-canto. Press play to hear the calls birders listen for in the field.
Northern Saw-whet Owl · alarm call, wail
0:05Bridgeport State Park, Okanogan County, Washington · © Bruce Lagerquist CC BY-NC-SA · XC450314
Burrowing Owl · call
0:05Calipatria, Imperial County, California · © Paul Marvin CC BY-NC-SA · XC143782
Elf Owl · call
0:06Riverside, California · © Tim Schreckengost CC BY-NC-SA · XC135243
Verified species, source iNaturalist
8 types of owls recorded in Pennsylvania
8 owl species have a verified observation record in Pennsylvania across the owl order (Strigiformes), each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
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2
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5
6
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8
Plus 2 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations. Photos by iNaturalist observers, reused under the licence each observer chose.
Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
3,740 verified observations on iNaturalist of owl have been recorded in Pennsylvania, most often in April, May, March.
When owl are recorded in Pennsylvania
Yes, Pennsylvania has a healthy population of owls. You can find great horned, barred, and screech owls across the state. The best strategy is to visit dense woodlands near water at dusk. Start with any of the large state forests or game lands. For more, visit ourPennsylvania wildlife page.
Where in Pennsylvania are owls most likely to be seen?
Owls in Pennsylvania favor large tracts of forest with mature trees. Look for them in places like Rothrock State Forest, Susquehannock State Forest, and Bald Eagle State Park. These areas have the mix of open fields and woodlands that owls need for hunting. You can also check out ourPennsylvania wildlife pagefor more locations.
In Pennsylvania, owls sightings usually improve when you slow down and match your first stop to where in the state sightings are most likely. Use thestate wildlife huband theroute guideto narrow your first area, then check access, weather, and distance before you settle in. A short walk with one clear viewing plan often beats covering too much ground, especially when habitat changes fast from open edges to brush, wetlands, timber, shoreline, or neighborhood cover.
What time of day and season is best for owl spotting?
Most owls are nocturnal or crepuscular. Your best odds are at dawn and dusk from late winter through early spring, when owls are most vocal during mating season. Use a recorded call or simply listen for their hoots. Winter can also be good because leaves are off trees.
Most misses happen when people arrive at the wrong hour or expect nonstop activity. Build around best season or time of day, keep one backup area in mind, and use theanimal facts pageplustour planning ideasto compare what a realistic outing looks like in Pennsylvania. If movement slows, stay longer at one promising spot, listen for calls or watch for edge movement, and reset around weather, light, water, or feeding changes instead of jumping to a totally new area too early.
How can I tell an owl from a hawk or other raptor?
Owls have a distinct round head, large forward-facing eyes, and a flat face. In flight, their wings are broad and silent compared to hawks. Compare with ouridentification guide for owlsto avoid confusion with Cooper's hawks or kestrels.
See ourstate animal guidefor the next step.
A better first outing usually comes from patient observation, quiet movement, and a simple checklist tied to easy identification markers compared with similar species. If conditions look weak, step back to thestate wildlife hub, review theanimal guide, and reset around the next strong window instead of forcing it. The goal is not a perfect sighting every time, it is building a repeatable local route you can return to with better timing, sharper field marks, and a clearer sense of what success looks like for beginners.
Plan your owl watching trip
Use the widget below to find lodging and travel options near prime owl habitats in Pennsylvania.
What owl species are common in Pennsylvania?
The most common are the great horned owl, barred owl, and eastern screech owl. Great horned owls are large with ear tufts, barred owls have dark eyes and a striped chest, and screech owls are small with either gray or reddish feathers. Theowl species hubhas more details.
What are the best state parks for owl watching?
Bald Eagle State Park, Ricketts Glen State Park, and Cook Forest State Park are excellent. Look along hiking trails near water at dawn. For a bigger adventure, try the remote areas of the Allegheny National Forest.
Owls in Pennsylvania souvenirs and art
After a successful spotting trip, bring home a memento. Thebird wall art collectionfeatures beautiful owl prints. For everyday items, consider:
Handcrafted Stoneware Owl Mug | Guatemalan Coffee Cup, 16 oz
This hand-molded ceramic mug in warm cream with a colorful owl design is perfect for your morning coffee. A great gift for anyone who enjoys owls.Check Price and Availability
Cute Animals Sticker Pack
This minimalist line-art owl sticker is a subtle way to show your appreciation for owls. Water resistant and great for laptops or water bottles.Check Price and Availability
Wild Animal Magnet Set 3D Gold Lion Tiger
This woodland owl magnet features a rustic wood grain background. A simple, affordable souvenir for your fridge.Check Price and Availability
Can you see owls during the day in Pennsylvania?
It's uncommon but possible. Barred owls occasionally hunt during overcast days. Great horned owls are mostly nocturnal, but you might spot them roosting in trees. Use caution around nests during breeding season.
See ourtour planning ideasfor the next step.
Gear and field guides
Plan your trip
Best time to see owl in Pennsylvania: April, May, March
See the month-by-month sighting calendar.
Plan your owl sighting in Pennsylvania
117,133 verified owl records have been logged in Pennsylvania, most recently in 2026. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in Pennsylvania
- Appalachian National Scenic Trail · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Chesapeake Bay · Wildlife Watching · Find hotels
- Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Fort Necessity National Battlefield · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Friendship Hill National Historic Site · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Presque Isle SP (IBA) · 345 species recorded
- John Heinz NWR--impoundment (Philadelphia Co.) · 306 species recorded
- Middle Creek WMA (IBA) (Lancaster Co.) · 296 species recorded
- Peace Valley Park (IBA) · 296 species recorded
- Green Lane Park · 293 species recorded
- Presque Isle SP--Gull Pt. · 293 species recorded
Birding hotspots via eBird (Cornell Lab).
Frequently asked questions
What owl species live in Pennsylvania?+
Owls in Pennsylvania favor large tracts of forest with mature trees. Look for them in places like Rothrock State Forest, Susquehannock State Forest, and Bald Eagle State Park. These areas have the mix of open fields and woodlands that owls need for hunting. You can also check out ourPennsylvania wildlife pagefor more locations. In Pennsylvania, owls sightings usually improve when you slow down and match your first stop to where in the state sightings are most likely. Use thestate wildlife huband theroute guideto narrow your first area, then check access, weather, and distance before you settle in. A short walk with one clear viewing plan often beats covering too much ground, especially when habitat changes fast from open edges to brush, wetlands, timber, shoreline, or neighborhood cover.
Where can you see owls in Pennsylvania?+
Owls in Pennsylvania favor large tracts of forest with mature trees. Look for them in places like Rothrock State Forest, Susquehannock State Forest, and Bald Eagle State Park. These areas have the mix of open fields and woodlands that owls need for hunting. You can also check out ourPennsylvania wildlife pagefor more locations. In Pennsylvania, owls sightings usually improve when you slow down and match your first stop to where in the state sightings are most likely. Use thestate wildlife huband theroute guideto narrow your first area, then check access, weather, and distance before you settle in. A short walk with one clear viewing plan often beats covering too much ground, especially when habitat changes fast from open edges to brush, wetlands, timber, shoreline, or neighborhood cover.
When is the best time to see owls in Pennsylvania?+
Owls in Pennsylvania favor large tracts of forest with mature trees. Look for them in places like Rothrock State Forest, Susquehannock State Forest, and Bald Eagle State Park. These areas have the mix of open fields and woodlands that owls need for hunting. You can also check out ourPennsylvania wildlife pagefor more locations. In Pennsylvania, owls sightings usually improve when you slow down and match your first stop to where in the state sightings are most likely. Use thestate wildlife huband theroute guideto narrow your first area, then check access, weather, and distance before you settle in. A short walk with one clear viewing plan often beats covering too much ground, especially when habitat changes fast from open edges to brush, wetlands, timber, shoreline, or neighborhood cover.
Keep exploring
More places to see owl
More wildlife in Pennsylvania