WhenToBird

2 oriole species in Missouri

When Do Orioles Arrive in Missouri?

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 Missouri. Baltimore Orioles arrive in Missouri in mid April, peak in the second week of May (25% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.

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 15-21mid April
PeakMay 8-14the second week of May
Most gone bySep 8-14the second week of September

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by the second week of September. Peak: on about 25% of Missouri 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 Missouri, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Baltimore OrioleApr 15-21Apr 15-21May 8-14Sep 8-1425%
Orchard OrioleApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 8-14Jul 8-1413%
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 Missouri 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 Missouri

Best counties for Baltimore Oriole

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Daviess CountyBest mid May · 24 checklists that week, 1,354 in all81%
  2. Grundy CountyBest late May · 13 checklists that week, 229 in all65%
  3. Putnam CountyBest mid May · 10 checklists that week, 790 in all62%
  4. Saline CountyBest mid May · 24 checklists that week, 1,137 in all61%
  5. Knox CountyBest early May · 18 checklists that week, 215 in all56%
  6. Chariton CountyBest the second week of May · 16 checklists that week, 586 in all56%

Common questions

When do orioles arrive in Missouri?
Baltimore Orioles arrive in Missouri in mid April, peak in the second week of May (25% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.
When do orioles leave Missouri?
Most Baltimore Orioles have left Missouri by the second week of 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 Missouri?
The Baltimore Oriole is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 25% of Missouri checklists.
Which orioles are in Missouri?
Baltimore Oriole and Orchard Oriole are reported regularly; the Baltimore Oriole is the most common.