WhenToBird

2 oriole species in West Virginia

When Do Orioles Arrive in West Virginia?

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

Baltimore Orioles and Orchard Orioles are the orioles you are most likely to see in West Virginia. Baltimore Orioles mostly pass through West Virginia: the first show up in mid April, they are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (26% of checklists), and most are gone by mid June.

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

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April
Common byApr 22-30late April
PeakMay 8-14the second week of May
Most gone byJun 15-21mid June

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by mid June. Peak: on about 26% of West Virginia checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Seprare
  10. Octnot usually seen
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Orioles in West Virginia, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Baltimore OrioleApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 8-14Jun 15-2126%
Orchard OrioleApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 8-14Jul 8-1414%
0%10%20%30%Baltimore OrioleOrchard OrioleJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Baltimore Oriole
  • Orchard 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia

Best counties for Baltimore Oriole

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Brooke CountyBest mid May · 20 checklists that week, 594 in all81%
  2. Wetzel CountyBest the second week of May · 67 checklists that week, 1,196 in all62%
  3. Marion CountyBest the second week of May · 182 checklists that week, 5,628 in all57%
  4. Summers CountyBest mid May · 139 checklists that week, 5,370 in all50%
  5. Hancock CountyBest the second week of May · 11 checklists that week, 283 in all50%
  6. Taylor CountyBest the second week of May · 53 checklists that week, 2,541 in all47%

Common questions

When do orioles arrive in West Virginia?
Baltimore Orioles mostly pass through West Virginia: the first show up in mid April, they are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (26% of checklists), and most are gone by mid June.
When do orioles leave West Virginia?
Most Baltimore Orioles have left West Virginia by mid June, 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 West Virginia?
The Baltimore Oriole is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 26% of West Virginia checklists.
Which orioles are in West Virginia?
Baltimore Oriole and Orchard Oriole are reported regularly; the Baltimore Oriole is the most common.