WhenToBird

Osprey · Pandion haliaetus

When Do Ospreys Arrive in Texas?

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

Ospreys are winter birds in Texas: the first arrive in mid June, they are common by the second week of September, peak in the second week of November (12% of checklists), and most are gone by mid April.

When to look

First arrivalsJun 15-21mid June
Common bySep 8-14the second week of September
PeakNov 8-14the second week of November
Most gone byApr 15-21mid April

Best: the second week of November. First arrivals mid June; most are gone by mid April. Peak: on about 12% of Texas checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Junrare
  7. Julrare
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Ospreys in Texas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
OspreyJun 15-21Sep 8-14Nov 8-14Apr 15-2112%
0%5%10%15%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 Texas 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 Texas

Best counties for Osprey

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Starr CountyBest the second week of December · 403 checklists that week, 14,693 in all63%
  2. McMullen CountyBest mid December · 199 checklists that week, 3,965 in all55%
  3. Hutchinson CountyBest early October · 13 checklists that week, 1,115 in all47%
  4. Orange CountyBest mid December · 49 checklists that week, 3,557 in all47%
  5. Zapata CountyBest the second week of December · 82 checklists that week, 3,836 in all45%
  6. Sabine CountyBest early August · 29 checklists that week, 1,870 in all36%

Common questions

When do ospreys arrive in Texas?
Ospreys are winter birds in Texas: the first arrive in mid June, they are common by the second week of September, peak in the second week of November (12% of checklists), and most are gone by mid April.
When do ospreys leave Texas?
Most Ospreys have left Texas by mid April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early June.
When is the best time to see ospreys in Texas?
The Osprey is reported most often in the second week of November, on about 12% of Texas checklists.