WhenToBird

5 oriole species in Texas

When Do Orioles Arrive in Texas?

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

Baltimore Orioles, Orchard Orioles, and Hooded Orioles are the orioles you are most likely to see in Texas. Baltimore Orioles mostly pass through Texas: they arrive in early April, peak in late April (14% of checklists), and most are gone by late May.

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 1-7early April
PeakApr 22-30late April
Most gone byMay 22-31late May

Best: late April. First arrivals early April; most are gone by late May. Peak: on about 14% of Texas checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junnot usually seen
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Orioles in Texas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Baltimore OrioleApr 1-7Apr 1-7Apr 22-30May 22-3114%
Orchard OrioleMar 22-31Apr 1-7Apr 22-30Sep 8-1412%
Hooded OrioleMar 1-7Mar 1-7Apr 8-14Oct 1-72.6%
Bullock's OrioleApr 8-14Apr 8-14May 8-14Sep 8-142.5%
Scott's OrioleApr 1-7Apr 1-7May 8-14Aug 22-311.6%
0%5%10%15%20%Baltimore OrioleOrchard OrioleHooded OrioleBullock's OrioleJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Baltimore Oriole
  • Orchard Oriole
  • Hooded 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 Texas 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 Texas

Best counties for Baltimore Oriole

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Nueces CountyBest late April · 8114 checklists that week, 86,594 in all41%
  2. Cameron CountyBest late April · 6840 checklists that week, 117,506 in all40%
  3. DeWitt CountyBest the second week of September · 80 checklists that week, 4,050 in all39%
  4. Bee CountyBest the second week of September · 92 checklists that week, 4,609 in all34%
  5. Brazoria CountyBest late April · 2405 checklists that week, 38,709 in all32%
  6. Rains CountyBest the second week of September · 16 checklists that week, 1,265 in all31%

Common questions

When do orioles arrive in Texas?
Baltimore Orioles mostly pass through Texas: they arrive in early April, peak in late April (14% of checklists), and most are gone by late May.
When do orioles leave Texas?
Most Baltimore Orioles have left Texas by late May, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see orioles in Texas?
The Baltimore Oriole is reported most often in late April, on about 14% of Texas checklists.
Which orioles are in Texas?
Baltimore Oriole, Orchard Oriole, Hooded Oriole, Bullock's Oriole, and Scott's Oriole are reported regularly; the Baltimore Oriole is the most common.