WhenToBird

2 oriole species in District of Columbia

When Do Orioles Arrive in District of Columbia?

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 District of Columbia. Baltimore Orioles reach District of Columbia in mid April, are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (22% 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 arrivalsApr 15-21mid April
Common byApr 22-30late 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 April; most are gone by the second week of September. Peak: on about 22% of District of Columbia checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octrare
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Orioles in District of Columbia, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Baltimore OrioleApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 8-14Sep 8-1422%
Orchard OrioleApr 15-21Apr 22-30Jun 1-7Jul 8-1415%
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 District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia

Best counties for Baltimore Oriole

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. District of Columbia CountyBest the second week of May · 5262 checklists that week, 121,721 in all22%

Common questions

When do orioles arrive in District of Columbia?
Baltimore Orioles reach District of Columbia in mid April, are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (22% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.
When do orioles leave District of Columbia?
Most Baltimore Orioles have left District of Columbia by the second week of September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early October.
When is the best time to see orioles in District of Columbia?
The Baltimore Oriole is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 22% of District of Columbia checklists.
Which orioles are in District of Columbia?
Baltimore Oriole and Orchard Oriole are reported regularly; the Baltimore Oriole is the most common.