WhenToBird

2 oriole species in North Dakota

When Do Orioles Arrive in North Dakota?

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 North Dakota. Baltimore Orioles arrive in North Dakota in early May, peak in late May (24% 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 arrivalsMay 1-7early May
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakMay 22-31late May
Most gone bySep 1-7early September

Best: late May. First arrivals early May; most are gone by early September. Peak: on about 24% of North Dakota checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprnot usually seen
  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 North Dakota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Baltimore OrioleMay 1-7May 1-7May 22-31Sep 1-724%
Orchard OrioleMay 8-14May 15-21Jun 1-7Aug 1-715%
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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota

Best counties for Baltimore Oriole

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Steele CountyBest late May · 187 checklists that week, 6,291 in all54%
  2. Oliver CountyBest late May · 29 checklists that week, 776 in all48%
  3. Traill CountyBest early June · 18 checklists that week, 764 in all48%
  4. Ransom CountyBest late May · 121 checklists that week, 1,920 in all47%
  5. Richland CountyBest late May · 121 checklists that week, 1,563 in all46%
  6. Bottineau CountyBest late May · 134 checklists that week, 1,949 in all40%

Common questions

When do orioles arrive in North Dakota?
Baltimore Orioles arrive in North Dakota in early May, peak in late May (24% of checklists), and most are gone by early September.
When do orioles leave North Dakota?
Most Baltimore Orioles have left North Dakota by early September, 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 North Dakota?
The Baltimore Oriole is reported most often in late May, on about 24% of North Dakota checklists.
Which orioles are in North Dakota?
Baltimore Oriole and Orchard Oriole are reported regularly; the Baltimore Oriole is the most common.