WhenToBird

2 oriole species in Wisconsin

When Do Orioles Arrive in Wisconsin?

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 Wisconsin. Baltimore Orioles reach Wisconsin in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (46% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.

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 byAug 22-31late August

Best: mid May. First arrivals late April; most are gone by late August. Peak: on about 46% of Wisconsin checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Auguncommon
  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 Wisconsin, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Baltimore OrioleApr 22-30May 1-7May 15-21Aug 22-3146%
Orchard OrioleApr 22-30May 1-7May 15-21Jul 15-216.3%
0%20%40%60%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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin

Best counties for Baltimore Oriole

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Crawford CountyBest late May · 172 checklists that week, 4,271 in all69%
  2. La Crosse CountyBest mid May · 556 checklists that week, 15,788 in all66%
  3. Waupaca CountyBest mid May · 241 checklists that week, 6,994 in all66%
  4. Grant CountyBest mid May · 749 checklists that week, 18,344 in all65%
  5. Iowa CountyBest mid May · 554 checklists that week, 18,836 in all62%
  6. Trempealeau CountyBest mid May · 245 checklists that week, 6,201 in all61%

Common questions

When do orioles arrive in Wisconsin?
Baltimore Orioles reach Wisconsin in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (46% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.
When do orioles leave Wisconsin?
Most Baltimore Orioles have left Wisconsin by late August, 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 Wisconsin?
The Baltimore Oriole is reported most often in mid May, on about 46% of Wisconsin checklists.
Which orioles are in Wisconsin?
Baltimore Oriole and Orchard Oriole are reported regularly; the Baltimore Oriole is the most common.