WhenToBird

Osprey · Pandion haliaetus

When Do Ospreys Arrive in Missouri?

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

Ospreys arrive in Missouri in mid July, peak in mid September (4.0% of checklists), and most are gone by early November.

When to look

First arrivalsJul 15-21mid July
Common byJul 15-21mid July
PeakSep 15-21mid September
Most gone byNov 1-7early November

Best: mid September. First arrivals mid July; most are gone by early November. Peak: on about 4.0% of Missouri checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Junrare
  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 Missouri, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
OspreyJul 15-21Jul 15-21Sep 15-21Nov 1-74.0%
0%2%4%6%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 Missouri 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 Missouri

Best counties for Osprey

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Putnam CountyBest late August · 13 checklists that week, 790 in all59%
  2. Polk CountyBest the second week of August · 82 checklists that week, 1,429 in all42%
  3. Ozark CountyBest the second week of October · 12 checklists that week, 302 in all36%
  4. Clay CountyBest late September · 324 checklists that week, 14,361 in all28%
  5. Audrain CountyBest late September · 11 checklists that week, 331 in all25%
  6. Nodaway CountyBest early October · 23 checklists that week, 834 in all24%

Common questions

When do ospreys arrive in Missouri?
Ospreys arrive in Missouri in mid July, peak in mid September (4.0% of checklists), and most are gone by early November.
When do ospreys leave Missouri?
Most Ospreys have left Missouri by early November, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see ospreys in Missouri?
The Osprey is reported most often in mid September, on about 4.0% of Missouri checklists.