WhenToBird

2 oriole species in South Carolina

When Do Orioles Arrive in South Carolina?

Adult Orchard Oriole
Photo: Irene, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Orchard Orioles and Baltimore Orioles are the orioles you are most likely to see in South Carolina. Orchard Orioles reach South Carolina in early April, are common by mid April, peak in early May (8.4% of checklists), and most are gone by early July.

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

When to look

First arrivalsApr 1-7early April
Common byApr 15-21mid April
PeakMay 1-7early May
Most gone byJul 1-7early July

Best: early May. First arrivals early April; most are gone by early July. Peak: on about 8.4% of South Carolina checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augrare
  9. Sepnot usually seen
  10. Octnot usually seen
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Orioles in South Carolina, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Orchard OrioleApr 1-7Apr 15-21May 1-7Jul 1-78.4%
Baltimore OrioleAug 22-31Sep 1-7Feb 8-14May 1-74.1%
0%5%10%Orchard OrioleBaltimore OrioleJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Orchard Oriole
  • Baltimore 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina

Best counties for Orchard Oriole

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Clarendon CountyBest mid June · 120 checklists that week, 9,189 in all47%
  2. Allendale CountyBest the second week of May · 11 checklists that week, 1,172 in all38%
  3. Lee CountyBest early May · 36 checklists that week, 1,310 in all38%
  4. Barnwell CountyBest mid May · 15 checklists that week, 1,096 in all33%
  5. Williamsburg CountyBest mid May · 41 checklists that week, 1,512 in all31%
  6. Fairfield CountyBest early May · 20 checklists that week, 768 in all31%

Common questions

When do orioles arrive in South Carolina?
Orchard Orioles reach South Carolina in early April, are common by mid April, peak in early May (8.4% of checklists), and most are gone by early July.
When do orioles leave South Carolina?
Most Orchard Orioles have left South Carolina by early July, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early August.
When is the best time to see orioles in South Carolina?
The Orchard Oriole is reported most often in early May, on about 8.4% of South Carolina checklists.
Which orioles are in South Carolina?
Orchard Oriole and Baltimore Oriole are reported regularly; the Orchard Oriole is the most common.