WhenToBird

2 oriole species in Pennsylvania

When Do Orioles Arrive in Pennsylvania?

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 Pennsylvania. Baltimore Orioles reach Pennsylvania in mid April, are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (39% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.

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 byAug 22-31late August

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by late August. Peak: on about 39% of Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Baltimore OrioleApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 8-14Aug 22-3139%
Orchard OrioleApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 15-21Jul 8-148.9%
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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania

Best counties for Baltimore Oriole

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Beaver CountyBest the second week of May · 324 checklists that week, 8,775 in all58%
  2. Montour CountyBest the second week of May · 276 checklists that week, 6,082 in all56%
  3. Erie CountyBest mid May · 2892 checklists that week, 49,012 in all53%
  4. Venango CountyBest the second week of May · 144 checklists that week, 2,831 in all53%
  5. Mercer CountyBest the second week of May · 690 checklists that week, 17,853 in all52%
  6. Snyder CountyBest mid May · 166 checklists that week, 5,676 in all51%

Common questions

When do orioles arrive in Pennsylvania?
Baltimore Orioles reach Pennsylvania in mid April, are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (39% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.
When do orioles leave Pennsylvania?
Most Baltimore Orioles have left Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
The Baltimore Oriole is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 39% of Pennsylvania checklists.
Which orioles are in Pennsylvania?
Baltimore Oriole and Orchard Oriole are reported regularly; the Baltimore Oriole is the most common.