When do ospreys leave Maryland?

Most Ospreys have left Maryland by mid September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late October.

When is the best time to see ospreys in Maryland?

The Osprey is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 26% of Maryland checklists.

Osprey · Pandion haliaetus

When Do Ospreys Arrive in Maryland?

Photo: Bill Levine, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Ospreys reach Maryland in early March, are common by mid March, peak in the second week of August (26% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 1-7early March

Common byMar 15-21mid March

PeakAug 8-14the second week of August

Most gone bySep 15-21mid September

Best: the second week of August. First arrivals early March; most are gone by mid September. Peak: on about 26% of Maryland checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Sepcommon
Octuncommon
Novrare
Decnot usually seen

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

Ospreys in Maryland, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Osprey	Mar 1-7	Mar 15-21	Aug 8-14	Sep 15-21	26%

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 Maryland 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 Maryland

Best counties for Osprey

Share of checklists at the peak

Queen Anne's CountyBest early August · 590 checklists that week, 26,875 in all72%
Calvert CountyBest the second week of August · 673 checklists that week, 43,807 in all65%
Talbot CountyBest the second week of August · 449 checklists that week, 31,140 in all57%
Dorchester CountyBest early August · 224 checklists that week, 26,161 in all56%
Kent CountyBest early August · 155 checklists that week, 13,396 in all51%
Cecil CountyBest mid August · 239 checklists that week, 18,620 in all50%

Common questions

When do ospreys arrive in Maryland?: Ospreys reach Maryland in early March, are common by mid March, peak in the second week of August (26% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.
When do ospreys leave Maryland?: Most Ospreys have left Maryland by mid September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late October.
When is the best time to see ospreys in Maryland?: The Osprey is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 26% of Maryland checklists.