WhenToBird

2 oriole species in Indiana

When Do Orioles Arrive in Indiana?

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 Indiana. Baltimore Orioles reach Indiana in mid April, are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (39% of checklists), and most are gone by mid August.

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 byAug 15-21mid August

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by mid August. Peak: on about 39% of Indiana checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  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 Indiana, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Baltimore OrioleApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 8-14Aug 15-2139%
Orchard OrioleApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 8-14Jul 8-1410%
0%20%40%60%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 Indiana 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 Indiana

Best counties for Baltimore Oriole

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Noble CountyBest the second week of May · 308 checklists that week, 9,080 in all75%
  2. Kosciusko CountyBest the second week of May · 298 checklists that week, 8,359 in all67%
  3. Whitley CountyBest mid May · 123 checklists that week, 4,695 in all67%
  4. Jasper CountyBest the second week of May · 40 checklists that week, 1,586 in all66%
  5. Elkhart CountyBest mid May · 1006 checklists that week, 37,340 in all65%
  6. Pulaski CountyBest the second week of May · 34 checklists that week, 1,160 in all65%

Common questions

When do orioles arrive in Indiana?
Baltimore Orioles reach Indiana in mid April, are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (39% of checklists), and most are gone by mid August.
When do orioles leave Indiana?
Most Baltimore Orioles have left Indiana by mid August, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of September.
When is the best time to see orioles in Indiana?
The Baltimore Oriole is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 39% of Indiana checklists.
Which orioles are in Indiana?
Baltimore Oriole and Orchard Oriole are reported regularly; the Baltimore Oriole is the most common.