Owls in Tennessee in March

Yes, March is a good month to see owls in Tennessee. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 234 of the 2,619 sightings logged across the year (8.9%), 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 June 28, 2026.

Eastern Screech-Owl photographed in TennesseeSnowy Owl photographed in TennesseeBarred Owl photographed in Tennessee
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for owls in Tennessee

8.9%

of yearly sightings

234

records in March

#4

busiest month of 12

2,619

verified records a year

February 7.5%, March 8.9%, April 14.4%. Busiest month is April at 14.4%.

Best months: April, May, June

2,619 verified observations of owls in Tennessee, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When owls are recorded in Tennessee

Peak month

April

376 records (14.4% of the year)

Quietest month

October

134 records

MonthObservationsShare
January1806.9%
February1967.5%
March2348.9%
Aprilpeak37614.4%
Maypeak31912.2%
Junepeak31712.1%
July1877.1%
August1555.9%
September1535.8%
October1345.1%
November1495.7%
December2198.4%

Owls you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Barred Owl1,709
Great Horned Owl372
Eastern Screech-Owl296
Short-eared Owl105
American Barn Owl68
Northern Saw-whet Owl15
Long-eared Owl14
Snowy Owl9

In Tennessee, March carries 8.9% of the year's owls sightings, about 0.6 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 4th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from February (7.5%) into March, and it heads toward April (14.4%) after. The busiest month is April (14.4%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The owls most often recorded in Tennessee 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 Owl1,709 records
  • Great Horned Owl372 records
  • Eastern Screech-Owl296 records
  • Short-eared Owl105 records
  • American Barn Owl68 records
  • Northern Saw-whet Owl15 records
Plan your tripAppalachian National Scenic Trail

Plan your owl trip in Tennessee

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 Tennessee in March?+

Yes. March accounts for 234 of the 2,619 verified owls sightings logged in Tennessee across the year, which is 8.9% of the annual total.

Is March a good time to see owls in Tennessee?+

March is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though April and May is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for owls in Tennessee?+

April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, May and June, based on 2,619 verified observations.

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

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