WhenToBird

3 oriole species in South Dakota

When Do Orioles Arrive in South Dakota?

Adult male Baltimore Oriole
Photo: Daughter Dad, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Baltimore Orioles, Orchard Orioles, and Bullock's Orioles are the orioles you are most likely to see in South Dakota. Baltimore Orioles reach South Dakota in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid 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 arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakMay 15-21mid May
Most gone bySep 1-7early September

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

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprrare
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Augcommon
  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 South Dakota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Baltimore OrioleApr 22-30May 1-7May 15-21Sep 1-724%
Orchard OrioleMay 1-7May 8-14May 22-31Aug 1-717%
Bullock's OrioleMay 8-14May 8-14May 22-31Jul 8-143.3%
0%10%20%30%Baltimore OrioleOrchard OrioleBullock's OrioleJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Baltimore Oriole
  • Orchard Oriole
  • Bullock's 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 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 South Dakota

Best counties for Baltimore Oriole

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Union CountyBest mid May · 99 checklists that week, 882 in all73%
  2. Clay CountyBest early June · 48 checklists that week, 2,633 in all73%
  3. Gregory CountyBest early June · 15 checklists that week, 472 in all60%
  4. Lincoln CountyBest late May · 142 checklists that week, 2,721 in all59%
  5. Douglas CountyBest late May · 107 checklists that week, 3,141 in all53%
  6. Yankton CountyBest mid May · 94 checklists that week, 3,895 in all52%

Common questions

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