Best Time to See Owls in Utah
May, June and April is the best time to see owls in Utah. Based on 2,685 verified iNaturalist observations, here is exactly when owls are most active across the year in Utah.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 2, 2026.
Burrowing Owl · Daughter Dad CC BY
Short-eared Owl · Daughter Dad CC BY
Western Burrowing Owl · Jared Shorma CC BY
2,685 verified observations of owls in Utah, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When owls are recorded in Utah
Peak month
May
449 records (16.7% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 174 | 6.5% |
| February | 177 | 6.6% |
| March | 223 | 8.3% |
| Aprilpeak | 341 | 12.7% |
| Maypeak | 449 | 16.7% |
| Junepeak | 346 | 12.9% |
| July | 249 | 9.3% |
| August | 188 | 7% |
| September | 165 | 6.1% |
| October | 145 | 5.4% |
| November | 120 | 4.5% |
| December | 108 | 4% |
Owls you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Great Horned Owl | 1,307 |
| Burrowing Owl | 443 |
| Western Screech-Owl | 295 |
| American Barn Owl | 188 |
| Northern Pygmy-Owl | 101 |
| Short-eared Owl | 78 |
| Spotted Owl | 72 |
| Long-eared Owl | 65 |
Weather to expect, source Open-Meteo
Typical weather in Utah
Recent typical conditions by month, so you can plan a trip around both when owls are active and what the weather is doing. The best months to look for owls sit around 33 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit, so pack for that.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 19°F | 1.5" |
| Feb | 35°F | 20°F | 1.5" |
| Mar | 43°F | 27°F | 2.8" |
| Aprbest time | 55°F | 33°F | 1.6" |
| Maybest time | 66°F | 42°F | 1.3" |
| Junbest time | 79°F | 53°F | 0.7" |
| Jul | 89°F | 62°F | 0.3" |
| Aug | 87°F | 61°F | 0.3" |
| Sep | 78°F | 52°F | 0.6" |
| Oct | 62°F | 38°F | 1.1" |
| Nov | 48°F | 28°F | 1.3" |
| Dec | 36°F | 20°F | 2.6" |
Typical recent conditions (5-year means) from the Open-Meteo archive, averaged for Utah. Weather varies year to year, so treat these as a guide.
More on owls in Utah:
Sightings of owls in Utah peak in May, when 449 of the year's 2,685 verified observations are logged — about 16.7% of the annual total. Activity stays high through May, June and April.
The quietest stretch is December, November and October, when owls are hardest to find — December sees just 108 records. If a reliable sighting matters, plan around the peak window rather than the off-season.
The owls you are most likely to encounter in Utah are Great Horned Owl, Burrowing Owl and Western Screech-Owl — the most-recorded species in the state. Each keeps its own seasonal rhythm, but the month-by-month pattern above reflects every reported sighting together.
Where to go
Best places to see owls in Utah
- Bryce Canyon National Park — National Park
- Capitol Reef National Park — National Park
- Cedar Breaks National Monument — National Monument
- Dinosaur National Monument — National Monument
- Zion National Park — National Park
- Arches National Park — National Park
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to see owls in Utah?+
May is the single best month, and the broader peak window runs through May, June and April, based on 2,685 verified iNaturalist observations.
When are owls hardest to see in Utah?+
December is the quietest month for owls in Utah, with only 108 verified records.
Are owls active year-round in Utah?+
Owls are recorded in 12 of 12 months in Utah, so they can be seen year-round, with a clear peak in May.
More places to see owls
More wildlife in Utah