WhenToBird

Osprey · Pandion haliaetus

When Do Ospreys Arrive in Arizona?

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

Ospreys reach Arizona in mid August, are common by late August, peak in late September (4.8% of checklists), and most are gone by late April.

When to look

First arrivalsAug 15-21mid August
Common byAug 22-31late August
PeakSep 22-30late September
Most gone byApr 22-30late April

Best: late September. First arrivals mid August; most are gone by late April. Peak: on about 4.8% of Arizona checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maycommon
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Deccommon

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

Ospreys in Arizona, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
OspreyAug 15-21Aug 22-31Sep 22-30Apr 22-304.8%
0%2%4%6%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 Arizona 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 Arizona

Best counties for Osprey

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Yuma CountyBest late January · 581 checklists that week, 14,687 in all25%
  2. Navajo CountyBest the second week of May · 745 checklists that week, 18,838 in all14%
  3. Coconino CountyBest the second week of April · 2381 checklists that week, 90,870 in all14%
  4. La Paz CountyBest late September · 67 checklists that week, 7,279 in all14%
  5. Apache CountyBest the second week of August · 360 checklists that week, 12,931 in all12%
  6. Maricopa CountyBest mid October · 5012 checklists that week, 269,896 in all12%

Common questions

When do ospreys arrive in Arizona?
Ospreys reach Arizona in mid August, are common by late August, peak in late September (4.8% of checklists), and most are gone by late April.
When do ospreys leave Arizona?
Most Ospreys have left Arizona by late April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late July.
When is the best time to see ospreys in Arizona?
The Osprey is reported most often in late September, on about 4.8% of Arizona checklists.