WhenToBird

2 oriole species in Ohio

When Do Orioles Arrive in Ohio?

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 Ohio. Baltimore Orioles mostly pass through Ohio: the first show up in mid April, they are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (46% of checklists), and most are gone by late June.

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 8-14the second week of May
Most gone byJun 22-30late June

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by late June. Peak: on about 46% of Ohio 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. Seprare
  10. Octnot usually seen
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Orioles in Ohio, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Baltimore OrioleApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 8-14Jun 22-3046%
Orchard OrioleApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 22-31Jul 8-149.0%
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 Ohio 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 Ohio

Best counties for Baltimore Oriole

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Putnam CountyBest the second week of May · 65 checklists that week, 927 in all72%
  2. Erie CountyBest mid May · 1575 checklists that week, 30,456 in all70%
  3. Defiance CountyBest the second week of May · 67 checklists that week, 1,801 in all67%
  4. Lake CountyBest mid May · 2077 checklists that week, 59,983 in all63%
  5. Shelby CountyBest mid May · 31 checklists that week, 1,659 in all62%
  6. Cuyahoga CountyBest mid May · 5299 checklists that week, 158,034 in all61%

Common questions

When do orioles arrive in Ohio?
Baltimore Orioles mostly pass through Ohio: the first show up in mid April, they are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (46% of checklists), and most are gone by late June.
When do orioles leave Ohio?
Most Baltimore Orioles have left Ohio by late June, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early September.
When is the best time to see orioles in Ohio?
The Baltimore Oriole is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 46% of Ohio checklists.
Which orioles are in Ohio?
Baltimore Oriole and Orchard Oriole are reported regularly; the Baltimore Oriole is the most common.