WhenToBird

Bullock's Oriole · Icterus bullockii

When Do Orioles Arrive in Washington?

Adult male Bullock's Oriole
Photo: sprcrkwild, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Bullock's Orioles reach Washington in early May, are common by the second week of May, peak in late May (9.3% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of July. They are the only regular orioles in Washington.

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

When to look

First arrivalsMay 1-7early May
Common byMay 8-14the second week of May
PeakMay 22-31late May
Most gone byJul 8-14the second week of July

Best: late May. First arrivals early May; most are gone by the second week of July. Peak: on about 9.3% of Washington checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprrare
  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 Washington, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Bullock's OrioleMay 1-7May 8-14May 22-31Jul 8-149.3%
0%5%10%Bullock's OrioleJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • 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 Washington 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 Washington

Best counties for Bullock's Oriole

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Franklin CountyBest late May · 288 checklists that week, 7,970 in all37%
  2. Walla Walla CountyBest late May · 1475 checklists that week, 35,829 in all32%
  3. Okanogan CountyBest late May · 1600 checklists that week, 23,048 in all30%
  4. Benton CountyBest the second week of June · 557 checklists that week, 23,565 in all30%
  5. Grant CountyBest late May · 1039 checklists that week, 19,963 in all30%
  6. Asotin CountyBest early June · 152 checklists that week, 4,316 in all28%

Common questions

When do orioles arrive in Washington?
Bullock's Orioles reach Washington in early May, are common by the second week of May, peak in late May (9.3% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of July. They are the only regular orioles in Washington.
When do orioles leave Washington?
Most Bullock's Orioles have left Washington by the second week of July, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of August.
When is the best time to see orioles in Washington?
The Bullock's Oriole is reported most often in late May, on about 9.3% of Washington checklists.