When do ospreys leave South Carolina?

The Osprey does not leave South Carolina: it is reported all year, from 5.3% of checklists in early February to 17% in mid March.

When is the best time to see ospreys in South Carolina?

The Osprey is reported most often in mid March, on about 17% of South Carolina checklists.

Osprey · Pandion haliaetus

When Do Ospreys Arrive in South Carolina?

Photo: Bill Levine, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

The Osprey is in South Carolina all year. It turns up on about 17% of checklists at its peak (mid March) and on 5.3% in its quietest week (early February).

When to look

PresentAll year

Peak weekMar 15-21mid March

Quietest weekFeb 1-7early February

Best: mid March. Here all year. Peak: on about 17% of South Carolina checklists.

Jancommon
Febcommon
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octpeak season
Novcommon
Deccommon

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

Ospreys in South Carolina, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Osprey	all year	–	Mar 15-21	–	17%

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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina

Best counties for Osprey

Share of checklists at the peak

Georgetown CountyBest early October · 601 checklists that week, 32,234 in all56%
McCormick CountyBest the second week of July · 13 checklists that week, 1,566 in all53%
Marlboro CountyBest early June · 30 checklists that week, 686 in all40%
Clarendon CountyBest the second week of March · 168 checklists that week, 9,189 in all40%
Horry CountyBest early October · 554 checklists that week, 27,518 in all35%
Beaufort CountyBest early July · 766 checklists that week, 60,298 in all35%

Common questions

When do ospreys arrive in South Carolina?: The Osprey is in South Carolina all year. It turns up on about 17% of checklists at its peak (mid March) and on 5.3% in its quietest week (early February).
When do ospreys leave South Carolina?: The Osprey does not leave South Carolina: it is reported all year, from 5.3% of checklists in early February to 17% in mid March.
When is the best time to see ospreys in South Carolina?: The Osprey is reported most often in mid March, on about 17% of South Carolina checklists.