Owls in Washington in July

Yes, July is one of the best months to see owls in Washington. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 902 of the 8,614 sightings logged across the year (10.5%), 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.

Northern Spotted Owl photographed in WashingtonShort-eared Owl photographed in WashingtonMainland Northern Saw-whet Owl photographed in Washington
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for owls in Washington

10.5%

of yearly sightings

902

records in July

#3

busiest month of 12

8,614

verified records a year

June 13.2%, July 10.5%, August 9.5%. Busiest month is June at 13.2%.

Best months: June, May, JulyPeak season right now

8,614 verified observations of owls in Washington, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When owls are recorded in Washington

Peak month

June

1,137 records (13.2% of the year)

Quietest month

December

511 records

MonthObservationsShare
January5886.8%
February5666.6%
March6037%
April7208.4%
Maypeak1,03512%
Junepeak1,13713.2%
Julypeak90210.5%
August8159.5%
September6017%
October5836.8%
November5536.4%
December5115.9%

Owls you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Barred Owl4,378
Great Horned Owl1,929
Short-eared Owl564
American Barn Owl328
Northern Saw-whet Owl279
Northern Pygmy-Owl272
Snowy Owl179
Western Screech-Owl146

In Washington, July carries 10.5% of the year's owls sightings, about 2.2 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 easing off from June (13.2%) into July, and it heads toward August (9.5%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so July is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

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

Which owls you are most likely to see

  • Barred Owl4,378 records
  • Great Horned Owl1,929 records
  • Short-eared Owl564 records
  • American Barn Owl328 records
  • Northern Saw-whet Owl279 records
  • Northern Pygmy-Owl272 records
Plan your tripEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve

Plan your owl trip in Washington

Start with live tours near Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, 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 Washington in July?+

Yes. July accounts for 902 of the 8,614 verified owls sightings logged in Washington across the year, which is 10.5% of the annual total.

Is July a good time to see owls in Washington?+

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

What month is best for owls in Washington?+

June is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through June, May and July, based on 8,614 verified observations.

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

The most-recorded species in Washington are Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl and Short-eared Owl, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.