WhenToBird

Osprey · Pandion haliaetus

When Do Ospreys Arrive in Minnesota?

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

Ospreys reach Minnesota in early April, are common by the second week of April, peak in mid August (6.8% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 1-7early April
Common byApr 8-14the second week of April
PeakAug 15-21mid August
Most gone bySep 15-21mid September

Best: mid August. First arrivals early April; most are gone by mid September. Peak: on about 6.8% of Minnesota checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marrare
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Ospreys in Minnesota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
OspreyApr 1-7Apr 8-14Aug 15-21Sep 15-216.8%
0%2%4%6%8%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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota

Best counties for Osprey

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Carver CountyBest early May · 992 checklists that week, 20,549 in all23%
  2. Clearwater CountyBest late July · 71 checklists that week, 2,315 in all20%
  3. Hubbard CountyBest the second week of July · 111 checklists that week, 5,131 in all17%
  4. Mahnomen CountyBest late July · 19 checklists that week, 618 in all17%
  5. Becker CountyBest the second week of August · 169 checklists that week, 8,604 in all16%
  6. Beltrami CountyBest late July · 133 checklists that week, 6,476 in all15%

Common questions

When do ospreys arrive in Minnesota?
Ospreys reach Minnesota in early April, are common by the second week of April, peak in mid August (6.8% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.
When do ospreys leave Minnesota?
Most Ospreys have left Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
The Osprey is reported most often in mid August, on about 6.8% of Minnesota checklists.