WhenToBird

2 oriole species in Louisiana

When Do Orioles Arrive in Louisiana?

Adult Orchard Oriole
Photo: Irene, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Orchard Orioles and Baltimore Orioles are the orioles you are most likely to see in Louisiana. Orchard Orioles reach Louisiana in late March, are common by early April, peak in late April (18% of checklists), and most are gone by mid July.

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

When to look

First arrivalsMar 22-31late March
Common byApr 1-7early April
PeakApr 22-30late April
Most gone byJul 15-21mid July

Best: late April. First arrivals late March; most are gone by mid July. Peak: on about 18% of Louisiana checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marrare
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  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 Louisiana, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Orchard OrioleMar 22-31Apr 1-7Apr 22-30Jul 15-2118%
Baltimore OrioleApr 1-7Apr 1-7Apr 22-30Jul 1-711%
0%5%10%15%20%Orchard OrioleBaltimore OrioleJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Orchard Oriole
  • Baltimore 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana

Best counties for Orchard Oriole

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. De Soto ParishBest the second week of June · 20 checklists that week, 1,023 in all63%
  2. Lincoln ParishBest mid June · 38 checklists that week, 2,271 in all59%
  3. La Salle ParishBest late April · 43 checklists that week, 847 in all57%
  4. Webster ParishBest mid June · 11 checklists that week, 418 in all55%
  5. Madison ParishBest the second week of June · 12 checklists that week, 491 in all54%
  6. Claiborne ParishBest early May · 82 checklists that week, 1,949 in all54%

Common questions

When do orioles arrive in Louisiana?
Orchard Orioles reach Louisiana in late March, are common by early April, peak in late April (18% of checklists), and most are gone by mid July.
When do orioles leave Louisiana?
Most Orchard Orioles have left Louisiana by mid July, 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 Louisiana?
The Orchard Oriole is reported most often in late April, on about 18% of Louisiana checklists.
Which orioles are in Louisiana?
Orchard Oriole and Baltimore Oriole are reported regularly; the Orchard Oriole is the most common.