Owls in Pennsylvania in April

Yes, April is one of the best months to see owls in Pennsylvania. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 461 of the 3,740 sightings logged across the year (12.3%), 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 June 28, 2026.

Eastern Screech-Owl photographed in PennsylvaniaSnowy Owl photographed in PennsylvaniaEastern Screech-Owl photographed in Pennsylvania
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for owls in Pennsylvania

12.3%

of yearly sightings

461

records in April

#1

busiest month of 12

3,740

verified records a year

March 9.9%, April 12.3%, May 10.7%. Busiest month is April at 12.3%.

Best months: April, May, March

3,740 verified observations of owls in Pennsylvania, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When owls are recorded in Pennsylvania

Peak month

April

461 records (12.3% of the year)

Quietest month

October

222 records

MonthObservationsShare
January3559.5%
February3699.9%
Marchpeak3729.9%
Aprilpeak46112.3%
Maypeak40010.7%
June2757.4%
July2596.9%
August2637%
September2617%
October2225.9%
November2446.5%
December2596.9%

Owls you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Great Horned Owl1,246
Eastern Screech-Owl1,065
Barred Owl811
Northern Saw-whet Owl144
Short-eared Owl143
Snowy Owl109
Long-eared Owl69
American Barn Owl22

In Pennsylvania, April carries 12.3% of the year's owls sightings, about 4 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 (9.9%) into April, and it heads toward May (10.7%) 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 Pennsylvania are Great Horned Owl, Eastern Screech-Owl and Barred 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 Owl1,246 records
  • Eastern Screech-Owl1,065 records
  • Barred Owl811 records
  • Northern Saw-whet Owl144 records
  • Short-eared Owl143 records
  • Snowy Owl109 records
Plan your tripAppalachian National Scenic Trail

Plan your owl trip in Pennsylvania

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.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see owls in Pennsylvania in April?+

Yes. April accounts for 461 of the 3,740 verified owls sightings logged in Pennsylvania across the year, which is 12.3% of the annual total.

Is April a good time to see owls in Pennsylvania?+

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

What month is best for owls in Pennsylvania?+

April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, May and March, based on 3,740 verified observations.

Which owls are you most likely to see in Pennsylvania?+

The most-recorded species in Pennsylvania are Great Horned Owl, Eastern Screech-Owl and Barred Owl, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.