WhenToBird

2 oriole species in California

When Do Orioles Arrive in California?

Adult male Hooded Oriole
Photo: Irene, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Hooded Orioles and Bullock's Orioles are the orioles you are most likely to see in California. Hooded Orioles reach California in the second week of March, are common by late March, peak in early May (16% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.

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

When to look

First arrivalsMar 8-14the second week of March
Common byMar 22-31late March
PeakMay 1-7early May
Most gone byAug 22-31late August

Best: early May. First arrivals the second week of March; most are gone by late August. Peak: on about 16% of California checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  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 California, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Hooded OrioleMar 8-14Mar 22-31May 1-7Aug 22-3116%
Bullock's OrioleMar 15-21Mar 22-31May 1-7Jul 8-1412%
0%5%10%15%20%Hooded OrioleBullock's OrioleJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Hooded Oriole
  • Bullock'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 California 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 California

Best counties for Hooded Oriole

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. San Diego CountyBest the second week of May · 8733 checklists that week, 405,465 in all41%
  2. Ventura CountyBest early May · 2043 checklists that week, 94,391 in all34%
  3. Santa Barbara CountyBest the second week of July · 1716 checklists that week, 120,616 in all31%
  4. Orange CountyBest late May · 6017 checklists that week, 244,559 in all31%
  5. Los Angeles CountyBest the second week of May · 9730 checklists that week, 410,235 in all30%
  6. Riverside CountyBest the second week of July · 1219 checklists that week, 113,541 in all30%

Common questions

When do orioles arrive in California?
Hooded Orioles reach California in the second week of March, are common by late March, peak in early May (16% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.
When do orioles leave California?
Most Hooded Orioles have left California by late August, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid September.
When is the best time to see orioles in California?
The Hooded Oriole is reported most often in early May, on about 16% of California checklists.
Which orioles are in California?
Hooded Oriole and Bullock's Oriole are reported regularly; the Hooded Oriole is the most common.