Species · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Osprey

Pandionidae Birds of preyPandion haliaetus

Osprey has surged: up 461% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

+461%Since 1968

1,154Routes

58Years Surveyed

About the Osprey

The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a North American member of the Osprey (Pandionidae). In this analysis it is grouped with the birds of prey.

Size: 21.5–23.5 in long (55–60 cm) — a large fish-eating raptor (typical for the family)
Habitat: Open country, woodlands, cliffs and wetlands, hunting from the air or a high perch.
Diet: Live prey — small mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and large insects (carrion for vultures).
Range: Recorded on 1,154 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 46 states, most concentrated in the Southeastern Coastal Plain.
Family: Pandionidae · Birds of prey

Notable Osprey Trends

No notable trend signals for Osprey. See the full index history below.

Osprey Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Osprey is projected to rise about 18% by 2029 — from 0.26 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.30 (95% range 0.27–0.33). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±14.3%, with 20% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+18%Change by 2029

0.30Projected 2029 index

0.27–0.3395% range

±14.3%Backtest error

Projection of the recent trend (dashed) with 80/95% bands — a projection, not a prediction. Habitat, climate, and land use are not modeled.

Year	Projected index	95% low	95% high
2025	0.28	0.25	0.31
2026	0.29	0.26	0.32
2027	0.29	0.26	0.32
2028	0.30	0.27	0.33
2029	0.30	0.27	0.33

Where the Osprey Is Detected

BBS routes recording Osprey, sized by most recent count.

Osprey Population Trend by State

Osprey population trend by state.

Alabama	+713%	1972	39
Alaska	+359%	1991	24
Arizona	-1%	1993	8
Arkansas	insufficient data	n/a	2
California	+117%	1971	95
Colorado	+247%	1998	22
Connecticut	+245%	1990	6
Delaware	+800%	1968	15
Florida	+289%	1968	97
Georgia	+585%	1981	46
Idaho	+52%	1972	37
Illinois	+316%	2001	8
Indiana	insufficient data	n/a	9
Iowa	insufficient data	n/a	1
Kentucky	-61%	1990	5
Louisiana	+106%	1994	20
Maine	+80%	1971	42
Maryland	12×	1968	47
Massachusetts	+986%	1993	15
Michigan	+811%	1983	24
Minnesota	+1%	1977	31
Mississippi	insufficient data	n/a	7
Missouri	insufficient data	n/a	5
Montana	+193%	1971	42
Nebraska	insufficient data	n/a	1
Nevada	insufficient data	n/a	3
New Hampshire	+147%	1991	14
New Jersey	+488%	1980	23
New Mexico	insufficient data	n/a	2
New York	45×	1972	43
North Carolina	-4%	1968	46
Ohio	insufficient data	n/a	8
Oregon	+566%	1971	71
Pennsylvania	+481%	1975	36
Rhode Island	insufficient data	n/a	3
South Carolina	+456%	1991	14
South Dakota	+78%	2000	6
Tennessee	+937%	1982	11
Texas	-61%	1987	10
Utah	+578%	1995	21
Vermont	+292%	1999	6
Virginia	+127%	1970	25
Washington	+346%	1972	70
West Virginia	+3%	2003	9
Wisconsin	+359%	1969	54
Wyoming	+70%	1975	31

Osprey Population Trend by Region

Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.

Osprey population trend by Bird Conservation Region.

BCR 4	+291%	1996	16
Northern Pacific Rainforest	+202%	1970	87
Great Basin	+789%	1972	90
Northern Rockies	+53%	1970	112
Boreal Hardwood Transition	+14%	1969	58
Lower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Plain	23×	1985	24
Atlantic Northern Forest	+290%	1971	64
Sierra Nevada	+48%	1975	19
Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau	+559%	1993	36
Badlands and Prairies	-3%	1986	13
Prairie Hardwood Transition	+616%	1973	55
Central Hardwoods	+86%	1990	23
West Gulf Coastal Plain / Ouachitas	-36%	2005	7
Mississippi Alluvial Valley	+140%	1991	14
Southeastern Coastal Plain	+150%	1968	143
Appalachian Mountains	14×	1975	79
Piedmont	13×	1983	44
New England / Mid-Atlantic Coast	+995%	1968	113
Peninsular Florida	+406%	1968	72
Coastal California	+816%	1976	34
Sierra Madre Occidental	+2%	1993	6
Gulf Coastal Prairie	+18%	1999	7

Osprey Conservation Status

Our route-weighted index shows it up about 461% since 1968.

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.