WhenToBird

2 oriole species in Tennessee

When Do Orioles Arrive in Tennessee?

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 Tennessee. Orchard Orioles reach Tennessee in the second week of April, are common by mid April, peak in the second week of May (15% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of July.

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

When to look

First arrivalsApr 8-14the second week of April
Common byApr 15-21mid April
PeakMay 8-14the second week of May
Most gone byJul 8-14the second week of July

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals the second week of April; most are gone by the second week of July. Peak: on about 15% of Tennessee 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. Auguncommon
  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 Tennessee, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Orchard OrioleApr 8-14Apr 15-21May 8-14Jul 8-1415%
Baltimore OrioleApr 15-21Apr 15-21May 1-7Jun 22-308.5%
0%5%10%15%20%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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee

Best counties for Orchard Oriole

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Houston CountyBest late June · 21 checklists that week, 1,234 in all83%
  2. Perry CountyBest late May · 43 checklists that week, 3,047 in all64%
  3. Humphreys CountyBest late May · 144 checklists that week, 5,858 in all62%
  4. Decatur CountyBest late June · 11 checklists that week, 378 in all59%
  5. Grainger CountyBest the second week of June · 62 checklists that week, 3,030 in all58%
  6. Henry CountyBest late May · 111 checklists that week, 5,668 in all55%

Common questions

When do orioles arrive in Tennessee?
Orchard Orioles reach Tennessee in the second week of April, are common by mid April, peak in the second week of May (15% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of July.
When do orioles leave Tennessee?
Most Orchard Orioles have left Tennessee by the second week of July, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid August.
When is the best time to see orioles in Tennessee?
The Orchard Oriole is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 15% of Tennessee checklists.
Which orioles are in Tennessee?
Orchard Oriole and Baltimore Oriole are reported regularly; the Orchard Oriole is the most common.