WhenToBird

Osprey · Pandion haliaetus

When Do Ospreys Arrive in Arkansas?

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

Ospreys arrive in Arkansas in early August, peak in late September (3.2% of checklists), and most are gone by early November.

When to look

First arrivalsAug 1-7early August
Common byAug 1-7early August
PeakSep 22-30late September
Most gone byNov 1-7early November

Best: late September. First arrivals early August; most are gone by early November. Peak: on about 3.2% of Arkansas checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maycommon
  6. Jununcommon
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novuncommon
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Ospreys in Arkansas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
OspreyAug 1-7Aug 1-7Sep 22-30Nov 1-73.2%
0%1%2%3%4%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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas

Best counties for Osprey

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Yell CountyBest the second week of July · 12 checklists that week, 2,585 in all30%
  2. Desha CountyBest mid September · 14 checklists that week, 756 in all28%
  3. Howard CountyBest the second week of July · 15 checklists that week, 238 in all27%
  4. Little River CountyBest mid March · 10 checklists that week, 510 in all17%
  5. Boone CountyBest the second week of September · 30 checklists that week, 1,653 in all16%
  6. Johnson CountyBest the second week of October · 75 checklists that week, 1,679 in all14%

Common questions

When do ospreys arrive in Arkansas?
Ospreys arrive in Arkansas in early August, peak in late September (3.2% of checklists), and most are gone by early November.
When do ospreys leave Arkansas?
Most Ospreys have left Arkansas by early November, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see ospreys in Arkansas?
The Osprey is reported most often in late September, on about 3.2% of Arkansas checklists.