Owls in South Carolina in March

Yes, March is one of the best months to see owls in South Carolina. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 252 of the 1,956 sightings logged across the year (12.9%), 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.

Long-eared Owl photographed in South CarolinaBurrowing Owl photographed in South CarolinaBarred Owl photographed in South Carolina
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for owls in South Carolina

12.9%

of yearly sightings

252

records in March

#3

busiest month of 12

1,956

verified records a year

February 6.6%, March 12.9%, April 16.5%. Busiest month is April at 16.5%.

Best months: April, May, March

1,956 verified observations of owls in South Carolina, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When owls are recorded in South Carolina

Peak month

April

323 records (16.5% of the year)

Quietest month

November

95 records

MonthObservationsShare
January1226.2%
February1306.6%
Marchpeak25212.9%
Aprilpeak32316.5%
Maypeak25913.2%
June21611%
July1306.6%
August1135.8%
September1045.3%
October1176%
November954.9%
December954.9%

Owls you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Barred Owl1,474
Great Horned Owl288
Eastern Screech-Owl135
American Barn Owl18
Burrowing Owl17
Short-eared Owl5
Northern Saw-whet Owl2
Long-eared Owl1

In South Carolina, March carries 12.9% of the year's owls sightings, about 4.6 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from February (6.6%) into March, and it heads toward April (16.5%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so March is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

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

Which owls you are most likely to see

  • Barred Owl1,474 records
  • Great Horned Owl288 records
  • Eastern Screech-Owl135 records
  • American Barn Owl18 records
  • Burrowing Owl17 records
  • Short-eared Owl5 records
Plan your tripCharles Pinckney National Historic Site

Plan your owl trip in South Carolina

Start with live tours near Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, 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 South Carolina in March?+

Yes. March accounts for 252 of the 1,956 verified owls sightings logged in South Carolina across the year, which is 12.9% of the annual total.

Is March a good time to see owls in South Carolina?+

March is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of April, May and March.

What month is best for owls in South Carolina?+

April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, May and March, based on 1,956 verified observations.

Which owls are you most likely to see in South Carolina?+

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