When do ospreys leave New Jersey?

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

When is the best time to see ospreys in New Jersey?

The Osprey is reported most often in mid September, on about 30% of New Jersey checklists.

Osprey · Pandion haliaetus

When Do Ospreys Arrive in New Jersey?

Photo: Bill Levine, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Ospreys reach New Jersey in mid March, are common by late March, peak in mid September (30% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 15-21mid March

Common byMar 22-31late March

PeakSep 15-21mid September

Most gone byOct 15-21mid October

Best: mid September. First arrivals mid March; most are gone by mid October. Peak: on about 30% of New Jersey checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marcommon
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octpeak season
Novuncommon
Decnot usually seen

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

Ospreys in New Jersey, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Osprey	Mar 15-21	Mar 22-31	Sep 15-21	Oct 15-21	30%

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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey

Best counties for Osprey

Share of checklists at the peak

Cape May CountyBest mid August · 2764 checklists that week, 189,832 in all64%
Cumberland CountyBest late May · 763 checklists that week, 13,927 in all58%
Atlantic CountyBest early August · 376 checklists that week, 28,208 in all43%
Ocean CountyBest early August · 1242 checklists that week, 87,340 in all41%
Monmouth CountyBest mid September · 1565 checklists that week, 79,748 in all40%
Bergen CountyBest the second week of September · 1243 checklists that week, 73,457 in all27%

Common questions

When do ospreys arrive in New Jersey?: Ospreys reach New Jersey in mid March, are common by late March, peak in mid September (30% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October.
When do ospreys leave New Jersey?: Most Ospreys have left New Jersey by mid October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early November.
When is the best time to see ospreys in New Jersey?: The Osprey is reported most often in mid September, on about 30% of New Jersey checklists.