When do ospreys leave Michigan?

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

When is the best time to see ospreys in Michigan?

The Osprey is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 6.2% of Michigan checklists.

Osprey · Pandion haliaetus

When Do Ospreys Arrive in Michigan?

Photo: Bill Levine, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Ospreys reach Michigan in late March, are common by early April, peak in the second week of August (6.2% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 22-31late March

Common byApr 1-7early April

PeakAug 8-14the second week of August

Most gone bySep 15-21mid September

Best: the second week of August. First arrivals late March; most are gone by mid September. Peak: on about 6.2% of Michigan checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Maruncommon
Aprcommon
Maycommon
Juncommon
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Sepcommon
Octuncommon
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

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

Ospreys in Michigan, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Osprey	Mar 22-31	Apr 1-7	Aug 8-14	Sep 15-21	6.2%

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 Michigan 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 Michigan

Best counties for Osprey

Share of checklists at the peak

Gratiot CountyBest the second week of August · 155 checklists that week, 5,892 in all51%
Monroe CountyBest mid August · 609 checklists that week, 22,078 in all44%
Roscommon CountyBest mid June · 289 checklists that week, 7,054 in all31%
Ogemaw CountyBest early August · 83 checklists that week, 4,675 in all29%
Branch CountyBest mid August · 33 checklists that week, 2,279 in all23%
Ionia CountyBest late July · 79 checklists that week, 5,509 in all15%

Common questions

When do ospreys arrive in Michigan?: Ospreys reach Michigan in late March, are common by early April, peak in the second week of August (6.2% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.
When do ospreys leave Michigan?: Most Ospreys have left Michigan by mid September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early October.
When is the best time to see ospreys in Michigan?: The Osprey is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 6.2% of Michigan checklists.