WhenToBird

2 oriole species in Kentucky

When Do Orioles Arrive in Kentucky?

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 Kentucky. Baltimore Orioles reach Kentucky in the second week of April, are common by mid April, peak in the second week of May (21% of checklists), and most are gone by early September.

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 8-14the second week of May
Most gone bySep 1-7early September

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals the second week of April; most are gone by early September. Peak: on about 21% of Kentucky 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 Kentucky, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Baltimore OrioleApr 8-14Apr 15-21May 8-14Sep 1-721%
Orchard OrioleApr 8-14Apr 15-21May 8-14Jul 8-1412%
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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky

Best counties for Baltimore Oriole

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Lincoln CountyBest the second week of August · 38 checklists that week, 2,393 in all55%
  2. Nicholas CountyBest the second week of May · 22 checklists that week, 280 in all52%
  3. Carroll CountyBest early May · 14 checklists that week, 412 in all47%
  4. Mercer CountyBest the second week of May · 104 checklists that week, 1,919 in all43%
  5. Garrard CountyBest the second week of May · 44 checklists that week, 1,578 in all43%
  6. Franklin CountyBest the second week of May · 268 checklists that week, 8,553 in all43%

Common questions

When do orioles arrive in Kentucky?
Baltimore Orioles reach Kentucky in the second week of April, are common by mid April, peak in the second week of May (21% of checklists), and most are gone by early September.
When do orioles leave Kentucky?
Most Baltimore Orioles have left Kentucky by early September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid September.
When is the best time to see orioles in Kentucky?
The Baltimore Oriole is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 21% of Kentucky checklists.
Which orioles are in Kentucky?
Baltimore Oriole and Orchard Oriole are reported regularly; the Baltimore Oriole is the most common.