WhenToBird

Osprey · Pandion haliaetus

When Do Ospreys Arrive in North Dakota?

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

Ospreys arrive in North Dakota in late July, peak in mid September (1.8% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October.

When to look

First arrivalsJul 22-31late July
Common byJul 22-31late July
PeakSep 15-21mid September
Most gone byOct 8-14the second week of October

Best: mid September. First arrivals late July; most are gone by the second week of October. Peak: on about 1.8% of North Dakota checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Jununcommon
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Ospreys in North Dakota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
OspreyJul 22-31Jul 22-31Sep 15-21Oct 8-141.8%
0%1%2%3%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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota

Best counties for Osprey

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Stark CountyBest late September · 57 checklists that week, 4,072 in all14%
  2. Grant CountyBest mid September · 36 checklists that week, 605 in all13%
  3. Rolette CountyBest late April · 24 checklists that week, 490 in all9.6%
  4. Sargent CountyBest mid July · 20 checklists that week, 894 in all9.4%
  5. Slope CountyBest mid September · 19 checklists that week, 1,136 in all7.0%
  6. Stutsman CountyBest late April · 216 checklists that week, 7,048 in all7.0%

Common questions

When do ospreys arrive in North Dakota?
Ospreys arrive in North Dakota in late July, peak in mid September (1.8% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October.
When do ospreys leave North Dakota?
Most Ospreys have left North Dakota by the second week of October, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see ospreys in North Dakota?
The Osprey is reported most often in mid September, on about 1.8% of North Dakota checklists.