WhenToBird

Osprey · Pandion haliaetus

When Do Ospreys Arrive in Alabama?

Adult female Osprey
Photo: Bill Levine, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Ospreys are in Alabama all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early March, peak in the second week of April (17% of checklists), and fall back by early May. In the quietest week (mid January) they are still on about 4.5% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildMar 1-7early March
PeakApr 8-14the second week of April
Fall back byMay 1-7early May
FewestJan 15-21mid January

Best: the second week of April. Here all year; numbers build from early March and fall back by early May. Peak: on about 17% of Alabama checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maycommon
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Decuncommon

Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.

Ospreys in Alabama, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
OspreyMar 1-7Mar 1-7Apr 8-14May 1-717%
0%5%10%15%20%OspreyJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Osprey
Share of complete checklists reporting each species, by week (4 per month). Gaps: fewer than 10 checklists that week.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Alabama that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.

Where in Alabama

Best counties for Osprey

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Barbour CountyBest mid July · 27 checklists that week, 2,947 in all77%
  2. Henry CountyBest mid April · 11 checklists that week, 338 in all62%
  3. Lawrence CountyBest the second week of September · 30 checklists that week, 1,969 in all50%
  4. Marshall CountyBest late July · 78 checklists that week, 5,647 in all41%
  5. Jackson CountyBest the second week of August · 27 checklists that week, 2,292 in all39%
  6. Mobile CountyBest mid March · 723 checklists that week, 34,270 in all38%

Common questions

When do ospreys arrive in Alabama?
Ospreys are in Alabama all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early March, peak in the second week of April (17% of checklists), and fall back by early May. In the quietest week (mid January) they are still on about 4.5% of checklists.
When do ospreys leave Alabama?
Ospreys never fully leave Alabama: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early May, but some are still reported in every week, about 4.5% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see ospreys in Alabama?
The Osprey is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 17% of Alabama checklists.