When do ospreys leave Tennessee?

Most Ospreys have left Tennessee by late September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early November.

When is the best time to see ospreys in Tennessee?

The Osprey is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 13% of Tennessee checklists.

Osprey · Pandion haliaetus

When Do Ospreys Arrive in Tennessee?

Photo: Bill Levine, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Ospreys reach Tennessee in late February, are common by early March, peak in the second week of August (13% of checklists), and most are gone by late September.

When to look

First arrivalsFeb 22-28late February

Common byMar 1-7early March

PeakAug 8-14the second week of August

Most gone bySep 22-30late September

Best: the second week of August. First arrivals late February; most are gone by late September. Peak: on about 13% of Tennessee checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febuncommon
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maycommon
Juncommon
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Sepcommon
Octuncommon
Novrare
Decrare

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

Ospreys in Tennessee, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Osprey	Feb 22-28	Mar 1-7	Aug 8-14	Sep 22-30	13%

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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee

Best counties for Osprey

Share of checklists at the peak

Houston CountyBest early April · 24 checklists that week, 1,234 in all84%
Humphreys CountyBest the second week of August · 139 checklists that week, 5,858 in all67%
Cocke CountyBest mid August · 83 checklists that week, 2,051 in all65%
Meigs CountyBest late March · 64 checklists that week, 4,866 in all61%
Roane CountyBest mid March · 115 checklists that week, 6,746 in all57%
Benton CountyBest late March · 43 checklists that week, 2,202 in all52%

Common questions

When do ospreys arrive in Tennessee?: Ospreys reach Tennessee in late February, are common by early March, peak in the second week of August (13% of checklists), and most are gone by late September.
When do ospreys leave Tennessee?: Most Ospreys have left Tennessee by late September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early November.
When is the best time to see ospreys in Tennessee?: The Osprey is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 13% of Tennessee checklists.