When do orioles leave Ontario? (to migrate south)

ByScott
24 Comments

As the middle of summer arrives in Ontario, Baltimore Orioles & Orchard Orioles are getting ready to start their migration back south to Central America, northern South America, and even Florida.

when do orioles leave Ontario?

Crazy, right? It feels like they just got here. I hate knowing I won’t get to see these beautiful orange birds until next spring!

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At this time of year, a common question I get asked is:

 

“When do orioles leave Ontario?”

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First, let me give you my disclaimer that there isn’t a specific date every year that orioles leave Ontario to head south for migration. They rely upon their instinct to tell them when it’s time to go.

 

During July, most baby orioles are leaving the nest and becoming independent. Once that occurs and breeding season is over, the parents start molting their body and flight feathers in anticipation of their migration south.

when do orioles leave

Believe it or not, some orioles leave Ontario as early as July!

 

But the majority of orioles start their migration south in August.

 

By September, it’s rare to see any orioles still hanging around.

To attract orioles to their yard, many people set out fresh oranges, grape jelly, and nectar, which orioles will readily consume when they first get back to Ontario in the spring. But as summer progresses and flowers bloom, fruits ripen, and bugs are readily available, orioles don’t need your feeders as much.

 

So even though orioles may still be in the area, it’s pretty common for them to stop visiting feeders in early summer.

 

Most seasons, I put my oriole feeders away in July because the birds have stopped using them! My recommendation is to observe your feeding station regularly, so you know when the orioles have stopped visiting for the year.

 

Interestingly, you can also TRACK orioles to see if any birds are still in Ontario!

 

Try using EBIRD to see if anyone has still been seeing orioles near you.

 

If you want to learn how to use eBird to do this, please watch the video below! (In the video, I am demonstrating how to track hummingbirds, but the same concept applies to orioles. 🙂 )

YouTube video

 

When do you usually see the last oriole in Ontario?

 

Please leave a comment below.

 

Please make sure to mention WHERE you live!

 

Thanks for reading. 🙂

Scott is the creator of Bird Watching HQ. His goal is to inspire you to care more about the birds and wildlife in YOUR backyard. Over the past 5 years, he has been focused on improving the habitat in his own yard by doing things like adding native plants, not using pesticides, etc. He is happy to report that over 50 species of birds have now been seen on his 1.5-acre property (that's in a suburban neighborhood). Learn more about Scott on his About page. And make sure to check out his LIVE bird cameras.

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24 Comments

  1. I live in Carlsbad Springs. I’ve had Orioles for the last 6 years. A lot. Usually a jar of jelly a week. This year they arrived as usual but just dissappear in July. Nothing. Very strange and disappointing. I would see the odd one. I have 4 feeders and previous years would fill twice a day. They would usually stay until first week of September. I’m blaming it on the strange summer weather. Until April 2025.

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  3. I’m in CT, USA. I was hospitalized for a week, and now being home don’t even heard them much less see them. The day before I ended in the hospital, I had been working to supply 6 active feeders. Literally, there were lines of oriels waiting at each feeder. It was can exciting and new experience for me. It’s just kinda sad that their leaving coincided with my absence and return. But, next year should be spectacular if they come back to this area!

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  4. In Rondeau Provincial Park area, we had a lot of baltimore oriole activity at our nectar feeder right up to 2 days ago. In the past week or so, I was filling it twice a day, similar to springtime. Sadly, things are eerily quiet at the same feeders today, Aug. 18, 2024. I think our beautiful orioles have started their migration south. We’ve also had an orchard oriole visit in recent years. We are so blessed to have these birds visit our feeders every summer. Until next summer my feathery friends …. 😢

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  5. Thanks for the info. I’m in Ann Arbor and it is June 13,2024. I have heard the Orioles but they haven’t been to my feeder today. It seems early to have them leave. They must’ve found some good flowers. Or I need to be patient.

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  6. It’s September 5th and it’s the latest I’ve ever seen Baltimore Orioles here in Selkirk Ontario on the north shore of Lake Erie. I’ve been putting out grape jelly once a day. I love watching them!

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  8. Have two males and one female oriole near Perth Ontario. This is the beginning of September and we did have a number of them back in July but they all left until a week ago.

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  10. (near Guelph Ontario) – After a brief lull in the first week of August, the orioles returned in force for the second and third weeks, presumably bulking up for the migration. We went through two jars of jelly in ten days, and then suddenly yesterday August 19th they were gone. Bon Voyage lovelies!

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  11. We are in Cayuga, Ontario and our orioles are still flocking to the feeders. They haven’t let up at all this year!

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  12. I live in Eastern Ontario (Prince Edward County) and the last time I had the orioles at my feeders was around July 14, 2023. I figure they have now left to migrate. They are regular visitors from mid May to mid July.

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  13. The orioles have been very busy feeding and singing around our yard until this week. We had at least 2 pairs and now nothing. Wondering if they have left already?
    Mimico, ON

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  14. The orioles are voracious eaters of grape jelly. Three jars so far. They wait for me to fill up the feeder then swoop down. I’ve never seen them around so long as this year.
    I’m at Presqu’ile Point in Brighton, ON.

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  15. We live just outside of Rondeau Provincial Park in southwestern Ontario. Sadly our few remaining Baltimore Orioles left us on September 6th. ☹️ Things are especially quiet in our yard now. It felt like a record year for Orioles, which was great to see.

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  16. I haven’t see any Orioles for two days now. Sept 2 was their last appearance at me father’s property, here east of Tottenham, in New Tecumseh, Ontario.
    Those birds had a heck of a time, this year, fending off the wasps!! 😬

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  17. We were inundated with orioles at our feeders in July and up until the third week of August. They are now decreasing. But it’s September 4 and we are still getting a few here in Ancaster, Ontario.

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  19. August 26th, 2022, we still have orioles here in north Kawartha Lakes area. This is the latest we have ever seen them, usually they’re gone by the 12th of August.

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  22. We had two nesting families this year. I think they just left as we haven’t seen them in a couple of days.. Can’t wait to see them return next spring. Zorra Township, Ontario

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  23. I’ve had Orioles in my yard for quite a few years. I put out several feeders last week of April with oranges n grape jelly. It’s August 19th and I still see the odd one. Beautiful birds. Carlsbad Springs, Ontario

    Reply