WhenToBird

Osprey · Pandion haliaetus

When Do Ospreys Arrive in New York?

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

Ospreys reach New York in mid March, are common by late March, peak in mid August (21% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 15-21mid March
Common byMar 22-31late March
PeakAug 15-21mid August
Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: mid August. First arrivals mid March; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 21% of New York checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maycommon
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novrare
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Ospreys in New York, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
OspreyMar 15-21Mar 22-31Aug 15-21Oct 1-721%
0%10%20%30%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 New York 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 York

Best counties for Osprey

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Nassau CountyBest late July · 1726 checklists that week, 95,019 in all55%
  2. Suffolk CountyBest the second week of August · 3058 checklists that week, 208,865 in all52%
  3. Seneca CountyBest late July · 1246 checklists that week, 47,387 in all50%
  4. Queens CountyBest the second week of August · 1254 checklists that week, 76,201 in all46%
  5. Richmond CountyBest mid August · 952 checklists that week, 55,926 in all43%
  6. Westchester CountyBest the second week of August · 1447 checklists that week, 108,101 in all39%

Common questions

When do ospreys arrive in New York?
Ospreys reach New York in mid March, are common by late March, peak in mid August (21% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.
When do ospreys leave New York?
Most Ospreys have left New York by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late October.
When is the best time to see ospreys in New York?
The Osprey is reported most often in mid August, on about 21% of New York checklists.