When do orioles leave Michigan?

Most Baltimore Orioles have left Michigan by late August, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early September.

When is the best time to see orioles in Michigan?

The Baltimore Oriole is reported most often in mid May, on about 44% of Michigan checklists.

Which orioles are in Michigan?

Baltimore Oriole and Orchard Oriole are reported regularly; the Baltimore Oriole is the most common.

2 oriole species in Michigan

When Do Orioles Arrive in Michigan?

Photo: Daughter Dad, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Baltimore Orioles reach Michigan in mid April, are common by late April, peak in mid May (44% of checklists), and most are gone by late August. They are by far the most reported orioles in Michigan.

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 15-21mid May

Most gone byAug 22-31late August

Best: mid May. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by late August. Peak: on about 44% of Michigan checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marnot usually seen
Apruncommon
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Juluncommon
Auguncommon
Seprare
Octnot usually seen
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

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

Orioles in Michigan, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Baltimore Oriole	Apr 15-21	Apr 22-30	May 15-21	Aug 22-31	44%
Orchard Oriole	Apr 22-30	May 1-7	May 15-21	Jul 8-14	4.7%

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 Michigan 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 Michigan

Best counties for Baltimore Oriole

Share of checklists at the peak

Van Buren CountyBest the second week of May · 590 checklists that week, 14,183 in all63%
Ionia CountyBest mid May · 151 checklists that week, 5,509 in all63%
St. Clair CountyBest mid May · 709 checklists that week, 24,098 in all61%
Clinton CountyBest mid May · 354 checklists that week, 10,597 in all59%
Macomb CountyBest mid May · 1902 checklists that week, 61,232 in all58%
Lenawee CountyBest mid May · 318 checklists that week, 11,588 in all58%

Common questions

When do orioles arrive in Michigan?: Baltimore Orioles reach Michigan in mid April, are common by late April, peak in mid May (44% of checklists), and most are gone by late August. They are by far the most reported orioles in Michigan.
When do orioles leave Michigan?: Most Baltimore Orioles have left Michigan by late August, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early September.
When is the best time to see orioles in Michigan?: The Baltimore Oriole is reported most often in mid May, on about 44% of Michigan checklists.
Which orioles are in Michigan?: Baltimore Oriole and Orchard Oriole are reported regularly; the Baltimore Oriole is the most common.