WhenToBird

Osprey · Pandion haliaetus

When Do Ospreys Arrive in Washington?

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

Ospreys reach Washington in late March, are common by the second week of April, peak in mid August (17% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 22-31late March
Common byApr 8-14the second week of April
PeakAug 15-21mid August
Most gone bySep 15-21mid September

Best: mid August. First arrivals late March; most are gone by mid September. Peak: on about 17% of Washington checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marrare
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maycommon
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Ospreys in Washington, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
OspreyMar 22-31Apr 8-14Aug 15-21Sep 15-2117%
0%5%10%15%20%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 Washington 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 Washington

Best counties for Osprey

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Wahkiakum CountyBest the second week of August · 88 checklists that week, 5,618 in all56%
  2. Asotin CountyBest early September · 54 checklists that week, 4,316 in all47%
  3. Cowlitz CountyBest the second week of August · 279 checklists that week, 15,273 in all36%
  4. Skamania CountyBest mid April · 200 checklists that week, 10,140 in all35%
  5. Franklin CountyBest early September · 179 checklists that week, 7,970 in all31%
  6. Chelan CountyBest the second week of August · 761 checklists that week, 45,099 in all30%

Common questions

When do ospreys arrive in Washington?
Ospreys reach Washington in late March, are common by the second week of April, peak in mid August (17% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.
When do ospreys leave Washington?
Most Ospreys have left Washington 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 Washington?
The Osprey is reported most often in mid August, on about 17% of Washington checklists.