Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii) is in the New World Blackbirds and Orioles family (Icteridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 16,687 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Bullock's Oriole: observations by month (U.S.)
About Bullock's Oriole
The Bullock's oriole (Icterus bullockii) is a small New World blackbird. At one time, this species and the Baltimore oriole were considered to be a single species, the northern oriole. This bird was named after William Bullock, an English amateur naturalist.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Bullock's Oriole by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 6,674 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Colorado | 1,903 | May | May–Jul |
| Texas | 1,816 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Arizona | 1,213 | May | Apr–May |
| Utah | 906 | May | May–Jun |
| Oregon | 894 | May | May–Jun |
| New Mexico | 784 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Washington | 651 | May | May–Jun |
| Idaho | 624 | May | May–Jun |
| Nevada | 392 | May | May–Jun |
| Montana | 204 | May | May–Jul |
| Wyoming | 144 | May | May–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 60 | May | May–Jun |
| Nebraska | 47 | May | May–Aug |
| South Dakota | 47 | June | May–Jun |
| Kansas | 43 | May | May–May |
| Florida | 36 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Alabama | 25 | January | Jan–Mar |
| New York | 23 | October | Oct–Feb |
| North Carolina | 21 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Maryland | 18 | December | Dec–Dec |
| Massachusetts | 18 | December | Nov–Dec |
| Georgia | 16 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Virginia | 16 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Maine | 13 | November | Nov–Nov |
| New Jersey | 13 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Minnesota | 12 | May | May–May |
| Louisiana | 11 | February | Jan–Feb |
| Pennsylvania | 11 | February | Jan–Feb |
| North Dakota | 10 | May | May–Jul |
| Missouri | 8 | December | Dec–Dec |
| Tennessee | 7 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Vermont | 7 | December | Dec–Jan |
| Michigan | 5 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Ohio | 5 | April | Apr–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (New World Blackbirds and Orioles)
Red-winged Blackbird
Great-tailed Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
Brewer's Blackbird
Boat-tailed Grackle
Western Meadowlark
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Bullock's Oriole?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to June.
Where is Bullock's Oriole most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Colorado, Texas.