Owls in Wisconsin in February
Yes, February is a good month to see owls in Wisconsin. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 258 of the 2,728 sightings logged across the year (9.5%), 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 June 28, 2026.
Good month for owls in Wisconsin
9.5%
of yearly sightings
258
records in February
#4
busiest month of 12
2,728
verified records a year
January 10.2%, February 9.5%, March 9.1%. Busiest month is April at 15.6%.
2,728 verified observations of owls in Wisconsin, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When owls are recorded in Wisconsin
Peak month
April
426 records (15.6% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 277 | 10.2% |
| February | 258 | 9.5% |
| March | 248 | 9.1% |
| Aprilpeak | 426 | 15.6% |
| Maypeak | 363 | 13.3% |
| June | 205 | 7.5% |
| July | 164 | 6% |
| August | 165 | 6% |
| September | 153 | 5.6% |
| October | 136 | 5% |
| November | 142 | 5.2% |
| December | 191 | 7% |
Owls you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Great Horned Owl | 986 |
| Barred Owl | 878 |
| Snowy Owl | 275 |
| Eastern Screech-Owl | 198 |
| Short-eared Owl | 122 |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | 76 |
| Long-eared Owl | 71 |
| Great Gray Owl | 17 |
In Wisconsin, February carries 9.5% of the year's owls sightings, about 1.2 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 holds steady between January and February, and it heads toward March (9.1%) after. The busiest month is April (15.6%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
The owls most often recorded in Wisconsin are Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl and Snowy Owl. Those counts are annual totals rather than a February split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in February itself.
Which owls you are most likely to see
- Great Horned Owl986 records
- Barred Owl878 records
- Snowy Owl275 records
- Eastern Screech-Owl198 records
- Short-eared Owl122 records
- Northern Saw-whet Owl76 records
Plan your owl trip in Wisconsin
Start with live tours near Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
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Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main owl viewing area.
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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see owls in Wisconsin in February?+
Yes. February accounts for 258 of the 2,728 verified owls sightings logged in Wisconsin across the year, which is 9.5% of the annual total.
Is February a good time to see owls in Wisconsin?+
February 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 Wisconsin?+
April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, May and January, based on 2,728 verified observations.
Which owls are you most likely to see in Wisconsin?+
The most-recorded species in Wisconsin are Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl and Snowy Owl, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See owls in Wisconsin in other months
More places to see owls
More wildlife in Wisconsin