When do ospreys leave Oregon?

Most Ospreys have left Oregon by mid September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of October.

When is the best time to see ospreys in Oregon?

The Osprey is reported most often in mid August, on about 15% of Oregon checklists.

Osprey · Pandion haliaetus

When Do Ospreys Arrive in Oregon?

Photo: Bill Levine, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Ospreys reach Oregon in mid March, are common by late March, peak in mid August (15% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 15-21mid March

Common byMar 22-31late March

PeakAug 15-21mid August

Most gone bySep 15-21mid September

Best: mid August. First arrivals mid March; most are gone by mid September. Peak: on about 15% of Oregon checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Maruncommon
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octuncommon
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

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

Ospreys in Oregon, species by species

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

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 Oregon 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 Oregon

Best counties for Osprey

Share of checklists at the peak

Columbia CountyBest mid August · 453 checklists that week, 27,750 in all37%
Curry CountyBest the second week of August · 278 checklists that week, 12,513 in all36%
Hood River CountyBest late August · 330 checklists that week, 9,695 in all36%
Sherman CountyBest early September · 75 checklists that week, 4,629 in all31%
Wasco CountyBest late August · 304 checklists that week, 13,127 in all31%
Morrow CountyBest mid August · 88 checklists that week, 3,484 in all31%

Common questions

When do ospreys arrive in Oregon?: Ospreys reach Oregon in mid March, are common by late March, peak in mid August (15% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.
When do ospreys leave Oregon?: Most Ospreys have left Oregon by mid September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of October.
When is the best time to see ospreys in Oregon?: The Osprey is reported most often in mid August, on about 15% of Oregon checklists.