WhenToBird

3 oriole species in Arizona

When Do Orioles Arrive in Arizona?

Adult male Bullock's Oriole
Photo: sprcrkwild, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Bullock's Orioles, Hooded Orioles, and Scott's Orioles are the orioles you are most likely to see in Arizona. Bullock's Orioles reach Arizona in mid March, are common by the second week of April, peak in the second week of May (13% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.

Orioles here are the birds (Baltimore, Orchard, Bullock's and relatives), not the baseball team.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 15-21mid March
Common byApr 8-14the second week of April
PeakMay 8-14the second week of May
Most gone bySep 8-14the second week of September

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals mid March; most are gone by the second week of September. Peak: on about 13% of Arizona checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marrare
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepuncommon
  10. Octrare
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Orioles in Arizona, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Bullock's OrioleMar 15-21Apr 8-14May 8-14Sep 8-1413%
Hooded OrioleMar 15-21Apr 1-7Jul 8-14Aug 15-2112%
Scott's OrioleMar 15-21Mar 22-31Apr 22-30Jul 22-317.6%
0%5%10%15%Bullock's OrioleHooded OrioleScott's OrioleJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Bullock's Oriole
  • Hooded Oriole
  • Scott's Oriole
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 Arizona 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 Arizona

Best counties for Bullock's Oriole

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. La Paz CountyBest mid May · 124 checklists that week, 7,279 in all23%
  2. Navajo CountyBest mid May · 527 checklists that week, 18,838 in all23%
  3. Apache CountyBest the second week of May · 422 checklists that week, 12,931 in all23%
  4. Yavapai CountyBest the second week of May · 2442 checklists that week, 83,606 in all23%
  5. Cochise CountyBest early May · 8536 checklists that week, 190,093 in all21%
  6. Greenlee CountyBest the second week of May · 168 checklists that week, 2,745 in all19%

Common questions

When do orioles arrive in Arizona?
Bullock's Orioles reach Arizona in mid March, are common by the second week of April, peak in the second week of May (13% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.
When do orioles leave Arizona?
Most Bullock's Orioles have left Arizona by the second week of September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late September.
When is the best time to see orioles in Arizona?
The Bullock's Oriole is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 13% of Arizona checklists.
Which orioles are in Arizona?
Bullock's Oriole, Hooded Oriole, and Scott's Oriole are reported regularly; the Bullock's Oriole is the most common.