WhenToBird

Osprey · Pandion haliaetus

When Do Ospreys Arrive in Vermont?

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

Ospreys reach Vermont in late March, are common by early April, peak in the second week of August (11% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 22-31late March
Common byApr 1-7early April
PeakAug 8-14the second week of August
Most gone bySep 8-14the second week of September

Best: the second week of August. First arrivals late March; most are gone by the second week of September. Peak: on about 11% of Vermont checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octrare
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Ospreys in Vermont, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
OspreyMar 22-31Apr 1-7Aug 8-14Sep 8-1411%
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 Vermont 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 Vermont

Best counties for Osprey

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Grand Isle CountyBest the second week of August · 142 checklists that week, 8,507 in all40%
  2. Franklin CountyBest the second week of August · 392 checklists that week, 25,284 in all28%
  3. Orleans CountyBest mid August · 256 checklists that week, 11,785 in all27%
  4. Addison CountyBest the second week of August · 1263 checklists that week, 77,064 in all21%
  5. Chittenden CountyBest early August · 1490 checklists that week, 109,477 in all18%
  6. Essex CountyBest early May · 196 checklists that week, 9,416 in all12%

Common questions

When do ospreys arrive in Vermont?
Ospreys reach Vermont in late March, are common by early April, peak in the second week of August (11% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.
When do ospreys leave Vermont?
Most Ospreys have left Vermont by the second week of September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early October.
When is the best time to see ospreys in Vermont?
The Osprey is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 11% of Vermont checklists.