Great Horned Owl in May
Where great horned owls are in May, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
May in the Great Horned Owl's year
May is the peak of the birding year. Migration floods the North, dawn chorus is at its loudest, and nesting is underway across most of the continent. By month's end the first broods of the year are hatching in mid-latitudes.
For the Great Horned Owl specifically, May is a spring month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 61 states and provinces where great horned owls occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where great horned owls are in May
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In May, great horned owls are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in May
Great horned owls are not nesting in May. The season runs January–April at mid-latitudes, and up to a month later in the North.
Outside the nesting season, great horned owls put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in May
- Rabbits, rats, snakes and frogs
Nests in midwinter; listen for duetting pairs in December and January, even in suburbs.
Adults feeding nestlings need easy calories. Some species that ignored feeders all winter now visit regularly, and you may see fledglings brought to feeders by their parents.
Full Great Horned Owl diet guide → · Best feeder for great horned owls →
Watching great horned owls this month
Great horned owls are settled and predictable in May, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region great horned owls are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Great Horned Owl month by month
Great Horned Owl by state
Frequently asked
Where are great horned owls in May?
In May, great horned owls are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do great horned owls nest in May?
No — great horned owls typically nest January through April at mid-latitudes.
What do great horned owls eat in May?
Rabbits, rats, snakes and frogs.
Sources
- Great Horned Owl — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Great Horned Owl life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Great Horned Owl — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
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.