WhenToBird

2 oriole species in Minnesota

When Do Orioles Arrive in Minnesota?

Adult male Baltimore Oriole
Photo: Daughter Dad, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Baltimore Orioles reach Minnesota in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (40% of checklists), and most are gone by late August. They are by far the most reported orioles in Minnesota.

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

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakMay 15-21mid May
Most gone byAug 22-31late August

Best: mid May. First arrivals late April; most are gone by late August. Peak: on about 40% of Minnesota checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprrare
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  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 Minnesota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Baltimore OrioleApr 22-30May 1-7May 15-21Aug 22-3140%
Orchard OrioleMay 1-7May 8-14Jun 22-30Jul 22-314.4%
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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota

Best counties for Baltimore Oriole

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Goodhue CountyBest mid May · 753 checklists that week, 16,294 in all65%
  2. Fillmore CountyBest mid May · 155 checklists that week, 3,791 in all64%
  3. Wabasha CountyBest mid May · 151 checklists that week, 6,548 in all61%
  4. Todd CountyBest the second week of June · 94 checklists that week, 4,802 in all60%
  5. Le Sueur CountyBest mid June · 104 checklists that week, 5,034 in all59%
  6. Houston CountyBest mid May · 155 checklists that week, 4,754 in all59%

Common questions

When do orioles arrive in Minnesota?
Baltimore Orioles reach Minnesota in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (40% of checklists), and most are gone by late August. They are by far the most reported orioles in Minnesota.
When do orioles leave Minnesota?
Most Baltimore Orioles have left Minnesota by late 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 Minnesota?
The Baltimore Oriole is reported most often in mid May, on about 40% of Minnesota checklists.
Which orioles are in Minnesota?
Baltimore Oriole and Orchard Oriole are reported regularly; the Baltimore Oriole is the most common.