WhenToBird

2 oriole species in Arkansas

When Do Orioles Arrive in Arkansas?

Adult male Baltimore Oriole
Photo: Daughter Dad, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Baltimore Orioles and Orchard Orioles are the orioles you are most likely to see in Arkansas. Baltimore Orioles mostly pass through Arkansas: the first show up in the second week of April, they are common by mid April, peak in early May (19% of checklists), and most are gone by early June.

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

When to look

First arrivalsApr 8-14the second week of April
Common byApr 15-21mid April
PeakMay 1-7early May
Most gone byJun 1-7early June

Best: early May. First arrivals the second week of April; most are gone by early June. Peak: on about 19% of Arkansas checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Jununcommon
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Sepuncommon
  10. Octnot usually seen
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Orioles in Arkansas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Baltimore OrioleApr 8-14Apr 15-21May 1-7Jun 1-719%
Orchard OrioleApr 8-14Apr 15-21May 1-7Jul 15-2113%
0%10%20%30%Baltimore OrioleOrchard OrioleJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Baltimore Oriole
  • Orchard 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas

Best counties for Baltimore Oriole

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Chicot CountyBest mid May · 11 checklists that week, 348 in all61%
  2. Desha CountyBest early May · 31 checklists that week, 756 in all47%
  3. Yell CountyBest late April · 74 checklists that week, 2,585 in all45%
  4. Phillips CountyBest early May · 24 checklists that week, 523 in all43%
  5. Sebastian CountyBest early May · 171 checklists that week, 4,415 in all42%
  6. Arkansas CountyBest early May · 56 checklists that week, 1,686 in all42%

Common questions

When do orioles arrive in Arkansas?
Baltimore Orioles mostly pass through Arkansas: the first show up in the second week of April, they are common by mid April, peak in early May (19% of checklists), and most are gone by early June.
When do orioles leave Arkansas?
Most Baltimore Orioles have left Arkansas by early June, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid September.
When is the best time to see orioles in Arkansas?
The Baltimore Oriole is reported most often in early May, on about 19% of Arkansas checklists.
Which orioles are in Arkansas?
Baltimore Oriole and Orchard Oriole are reported regularly; the Baltimore Oriole is the most common.