When do ospreys leave West Virginia?

Most Ospreys have left West Virginia by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid October.

When is the best time to see ospreys in West Virginia?

The Osprey is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 6.3% of West Virginia checklists.

Osprey · Pandion haliaetus

When Do Ospreys Arrive in West Virginia?

Photo: Bill Levine, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Ospreys arrive in West Virginia in mid March, peak in the second week of August (6.3% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 15-21mid March

Common byMar 15-21mid March

PeakAug 8-14the second week of August

Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: the second week of August. First arrivals mid March; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 6.3% of West Virginia checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marcommon
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octuncommon
Novrare
Decnot usually seen

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

Ospreys in West Virginia, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Osprey	Mar 15-21	Mar 15-21	Aug 8-14	Oct 1-7	6.3%

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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia

Best counties for Osprey

Share of checklists at the peak

Mason CountyBest late July · 43 checklists that week, 2,835 in all47%
Lewis CountyBest late March · 70 checklists that week, 1,802 in all40%
Barbour CountyBest early May · 47 checklists that week, 1,534 in all28%
Pleasants CountyBest mid August · 12 checklists that week, 1,671 in all28%
Summers CountyBest mid August · 90 checklists that week, 5,370 in all21%
Wetzel CountyBest mid July · 10 checklists that week, 1,196 in all19%

Common questions

When do ospreys arrive in West Virginia?: Ospreys arrive in West Virginia in mid March, peak in the second week of August (6.3% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.
When do ospreys leave West Virginia?: Most Ospreys have left West Virginia by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid October.
When is the best time to see ospreys in West Virginia?: The Osprey is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 6.3% of West Virginia checklists.