When do burrowing owls arrive in Montana?
The Burrowing Owl is a summer breeder in Montana — here is when to expect it, when it leaves, and how to be ready.
Burrowing Owl timing in Montana
- Arrives
- Around March
- Leaves
- By August
- Status here
- Summer breeder
- Nesting season
- April–July
- Present roughly
- March–August
In Montana, burrowing owls are present through the warm months, arriving around March and heading south again by August.
These windows are set by latitude: Montana sits in the northern part of this species' range, so timing here runs later than the continental average — the season starts later this far north and the birds wait for it. In any given year, weather can move the first arrivals by a week or two either way.
Month by month in this state
Highlighted months are when burrowing owls are expected in Montana. The edges of the window are the interesting weeks — first arrivals and last departures vary most from year to year.
Getting ready before they arrive
The week before March is the time to act. Have feeders cleaned, filled and out by early March — the first burrowing owls into Montana are scouting for reliable food, and a station that's ready early gets added to their route.
Once nesting begins around April, adults switch to protein-rich food for their young and visits to feeders become quick and purposeful. Expect the busiest activity at dawn.
What burrowing owls eat while they're here
- Grasshoppers, beetles, scorpions and voles
Lives in prairie-dog and ground-squirrel burrows; artificial burrows are used where habitat is scarce.
Full Burrowing Owl diet guide → · Best feeder for burrowing owls →
Native plants that hold burrowing owls in Montana
Food keeps a migrant for a day; habitat keeps it for the season. These Montana-native plants are known to attract burrowing owls:
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
When do burrowing owls arrive in Montana?
burrowing owls typically arrive in Montana around March, with nesting underway by April. Timing can shift a week or two with the weather in any given year.
When do burrowing owls leave Montana?
Most burrowing owls have left Montana by August. They spend the winter farther south and return the following spring.
Do burrowing owls stay in Montana all year?
No — in Montana the Burrowing Owl is a summer breeder, present roughly March–August. Outside that window it is rarely seen in the state.
What should I put out before burrowing owls arrive in Montana?
Have feeders up and clean by early March — first arrivals scout reliable food sources. Good offerings for this species: grasshoppers, beetles, scorpions and voles.
Sources
- Burrowing Owl — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Burrowing Owl life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Burrowing Owl — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Montana
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.