WhenToBird

Osprey · Pandion haliaetus

When Do Ospreys Arrive in Kansas?

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

Ospreys arrive in Kansas in mid August, peak in late September (7.1% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of November.

When to look

First arrivalsAug 15-21mid August
Common byAug 15-21mid August
PeakSep 22-30late September
Most gone byNov 8-14the second week of November

Best: late September. First arrivals mid August; most are gone by the second week of November. Peak: on about 7.1% of Kansas checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marrare
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Junnot usually seen
  7. Julnot usually seen
  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 Kansas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
OspreyAug 15-21Aug 15-21Sep 22-30Nov 8-147.1%
0%5%10%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 Kansas 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 Kansas

Best counties for Osprey

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Kingman CountyBest late September · 23 checklists that week, 1,697 in all45%
  2. Comanche CountyBest late September · 16 checklists that week, 769 in all40%
  3. Chase CountyBest mid September · 30 checklists that week, 2,235 in all37%
  4. Rooks CountyBest late April · 19 checklists that week, 514 in all33%
  5. Pratt CountyBest early October · 12 checklists that week, 1,637 in all30%
  6. Jefferson CountyBest mid September · 88 checklists that week, 6,538 in all28%

Common questions

When do ospreys arrive in Kansas?
Ospreys arrive in Kansas in mid August, peak in late September (7.1% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of November.
When do ospreys leave Kansas?
Most Ospreys have left Kansas by the second week of November, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see ospreys in Kansas?
The Osprey is reported most often in late September, on about 7.1% of Kansas checklists.