Owls in Utah in May
Yes, May is one of the best months to see owls in Utah. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 449 of the 2,685 sightings logged across the year (16.7%), based on verified iNaturalist records.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 2, 2026.
Peak month for owls in Utah
16.7%
of yearly sightings
449
records in May
#1
busiest month of 12
2,685
verified records a year
April 12.7%, May 16.7%, June 12.9%. Busiest month is May at 16.7%.
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 |
In Utah, May carries 16.7% of the year's owls sightings, about 8.4 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 April (12.7%) into May, and it heads toward June (12.9%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so May is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The owls most often recorded in Utah are Great Horned Owl, Burrowing Owl and Western Screech-Owl. Those counts are annual totals rather than a May split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in May itself.
Which owls you are most likely to see
- Great Horned Owl1,307 records
- Burrowing Owl443 records
- Western Screech-Owl295 records
- American Barn Owl188 records
- Northern Pygmy-Owl101 records
- Short-eared Owl78 records
Plan your owl trip in Utah
Start with live tours near Bryce Canyon National Park, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Bryce Canyon National Park
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main owl viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near Bryce Canyon National Park
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best owl viewing area in Utah.
Viator
Broader backupBook a owl tour in Utah
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see owls in Utah in May?+
Yes. May accounts for 449 of the 2,685 verified owls sightings logged in Utah across the year, which is 16.7% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see owls in Utah?+
May is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of May, June and April.
What month is best for owls in Utah?+
May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, June and April, based on 2,685 verified observations.
Which owls are you most likely to see in Utah?+
The most-recorded species in Utah are Great Horned Owl, Burrowing Owl and Western Screech-Owl, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See owls in Utah in other months
More places to see owls
More wildlife in Utah