Connie knows how very important natural habitats are to our bird populations.
That’s why she loves bird-friendly flowers, shrubs and trees.
A northern oriole proudly displaying its trademark orange plumage
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How to Attract Baltimore Orioles
Did you know that the Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula ) was named for the
Baltimore family of England whose crest contains the same colors? It is also
the state bird of Maryland (the capital being named for the same English
family). These birds are revered by the backyard birding community for their
unique appearance and interesting behavior.
If you’d like to see more of these Baltimore beauties in your yard, you’ll
want to provide certain materials that the species tends to use and consume.
7 Ways to Attract Northern Orioles to Your Yard
- Food
- Vegetable Garden
- Nectar-Yielding Flowers
- Fruit
- Jam
- Water
- Nesting Materials
1. Food
A grape arbor and/or fruit trees would provide shelter and food as well as
beauty to your landscape. Consider also planting blueberries, raspberries,
elderberries, or dark cherry varieties. Our old mulberry tree was a very
favorite spot for the orioles, as was the neighbors’ crab apple tree.
2. Vegetable Garden
The insects that love your vegetable garden are highly prized by orioles and
lots of other insect-loving birds. No toxic pesticide is necessary!
Crab apples trees are favorites of Orioles, and many other fruit-eating birds.
Grandma Pearl
3. Nectar-Yielding Flowers
Any nectar-yielding flowers will be relished by your orioles. They enjoy many
of the same flowers that hummingbirds do. Plant coral honeysuckle, columbine,
penstemons, monkey flowers, fuschias, salvias, bee balm, and catmint.
4. Fruit
Cutting an orange or apple in half and hanging it from a tree is a well-known
way to call orioles to the table, but did you know that they absolutely love
grape jelly and strawberry jam? Offer them in tiny cups, no more than 2
tablespoons at a time. Otherwise, their wings may become mired in the sticky
goo, rendering them unable to fly.
Holly bush provides lots of nooks and crannies in which to shelter and hide.
It also has tasty berries birds love to eat.
Grandma Pearl
5. Jam
Orange marmalade, elderberry jam, black raspberry jam, and apricot preserves
are also fun to serve to the orioles. I have heard that pink grapefruit cut in
half will also please them. Experiment to see what your orioles like best.
There are lots of fruits that are prized by colorful migratory birds like
orioles, grosbeaks, buntings, and cedar waxwings.
6. Water
If you aren’t lucky enough to have a river or nearby stream, pond, or pool,
orioles will be just as happy with a water fountain or birdbath. Just as long
as it is large enough for them to bathe on a regular basis, they will be
happy. Just like catbirds, they love to take baths! Orioles will use a water
feature or fountain numerous times in a day, particularly if there is a
dripper or bubbler attachment. If it sounds like a babbling brook, lots of
birds will investigate and enjoy the water!
Red Columbines attract all kinds of nectar-loving birds, including orioles and
hummingbirds.
Grandma Pearl
7. Nesting Materials
Make sure you have a grassy area from which the orioles can glean their
nesting material. A small meadow planted with native grasses and wildflowers
would be ideal. Also, include teasel and or milkweed for their nest inner
liner, or refrain from mowing a small patch of your lawn during the nesting
season in spring. Try cutting short lengths (about 2” to 3“) of clean, soft
cotton yarn, and hang them from shrub and tree branches.
- Orioles lay between 3 and 6 bluish-gray eggs that have irregular dark brown or black markings.
- If a cowbird should lay an egg in an oriole nest, the oriole mom is strong enough and smart enough to kick it out onto the ground below! They are not about to raise another bird’s baby.
- It takes about 2 weeks for the orioles to hatch from their eggs and about the same amount of time before the fledglings take flying lessons from their parents.
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Their unusual nests are made in three stages using grass, plant fibers, plant
down, and spider webs. The end product is a 5” to 7″ sturdy, flexible pouch
large enough to accommodate all the babies. I remember when I was a child,
every year there was a Baltimore oriole nest hanging at the end of an Elm tree
branch about 25 feet in the air right over the dirt road on which we lived. I
used to worry that the babies would fall through the nest and be killed on the
road below. I was unaware then how strong and flexible oriole nests are. The
nests are never re-used; orioles build fresh ones every year.
Chokecherries are a weed tree that orioles also love to nest in. They lined
the back of our property and were filled with all kinds of birds because they
also grew on the edge of a swampy area. Next to that was a field of black
raspberries.
Even if you do not have tall deciduous trees nearby, orioles will use dense
shrubs or regular fruit trees in which to nest. This is true, especially if
you offer all their favorite foods. Also, plant low-growing shrubs, keeping
them close together—no more than 4 feet apart in mass plantings. Use holly,
cotoneaster, hawthorn, viburnum, weigelas, and pyracanthas, for example.
Oriole Singing and Foraging
Additional Information About Northern Orioles
Size
This robin-sized cousin of the blackbird, grackle, and cowbird measures 7” to
8-½” from beak to tail. It sports a black hood over its head and neck, a
brilliant orange back and breast, and a black and orange tail and black wings
with white wing bars.
Appearance
The female Northern Oriole is a duller orange underneath and olive green on
top with black wings and white wing bars. The long, pointed black beak is
well-suited to piercing fruit and insects. Young Northern Orioles will
resemble their mother, being olive and yellow-brown above, and a yellowish-
orange color underneath. Two white wing bars are easy to see on both the
females and the juvenile orioles.
Song
The oriole’s song matches its physical beauty with flutelike whistling notes,
which vary within each song and with each individual. If there is trouble,
orioles sound an alarm by chattering excitedly.
Migration
They spend their winters in South America but migrate northward as far as
Canada in spring and return to their South American digs in the autumn.
Northern (Baltimore) Oriole Range Map
Map illustrates how far Northern Orioles migrate from Canada to South America
and back again. Blue indicates their breeding range, while the red shows their
winter destinations.
Northern Oriole Range Map
Habitat
Preferred habitat includes open woodlands and riverside forest edges;
farmlands and parks with fruit trees, nectar flowers, and low-growing shrubs;
and grassy meadows edged with tall trees.
Protecting the Habitats of Wildlife
Birds’ habitats in general and orioles’ in particular are shrinking due to
deforestation and human urban sprawl. By crafting havens for birds like the
colorful Northern oriole, our backyards can serve to replenish some of that
lost habitat. The colorful beauty and lovely songs make for an oasis for
humans as well.
Male Northern Oriole stretching tall to get a better view of his territory!
Grandma Pearl
Do You Have Any Tricks to Attract Orioles?
frances on June 29, 2015:
Can you put out strawberry jam for Orioles, or are the seeds bad for them?
Connie Smith (author) from Southern Tier New York State on September 10,
2012:
Hi Dolores. You know what? Even if the ants do come along, the orioles will
snack on them as well! I’m very glad you found this useful. If you have your
oriole enticements in place by late spring, the orioles in the area should
find them. But be patient, they will eventually see anything that is bright
orange in their territory and be drawn to it. I wish you lots of success! And
thank you so much for stopping by and commenting; also for voting and sharing.
It is very much appreciated.
Dolores Monet from East Coast, United States on September 10, 2012:
I love Baltimore Orioles, such a beautiful bird and a lovely song! I am not
one to put out anything sugary as I just know that the ants will come
marching. But I think I’ll try that next year. We’ve had so many wonderful
birds in our yard, but have not seen an oriole out there yet. And I know they
are in our area. Lovely hub. Voted up and tweeted.
Connie Smith (author) from Southern Tier New York State on April 28,
2012:
Rika, So nice to hear from you. Thanks for stopping by and for your great
comments. You and I share a mutual appreciation for all birds, no matter what
part of the world we live in. Maybe someday I’ll get the chance to visit
different places and see totally different birds. What a joy that would be!
Thank you.
Connie Smith (author) from Southern Tier New York State on April 28,
2012:
Thank you Betsy! You have always been very supportive, and it is very much
appreciated!
Connie Smith (author) from Southern Tier New York State on April 28,
2012:
Hi dappledesigns, I am very glad you found the information helpful. You will
love the colorful beauty and joyful song of these wonderful birds. Thank you
for your supportive comments. I am happy you stopped by and I appreciate your
kind words.
Connie Smith (author) from Southern Tier New York State on April 28,
2012:
Derdriu, thank you for the lovely comments and gracious welcome. I am so
pleased that you found the video and information useful. I have ordered a
mulberry tree to add to my yard. I know at least 40 different bird species
love the fruit of this tree. Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the
time to comment. It is certainly appreciated.
Rika Susan from South Africa on April 28, 2012:
Hi, Connie! Very interesting hub! What a beautiful little bird. Wish we had
them here. Very good, practical advice for folks who can look forward to enjoy
having orioles in their gardens!
Betsy on April 28, 2012:
Great article, Connie!
dappledesigns from In Limbo between New England and the Midwest on April
27, 2012:
What a great hub! We have been trying to get Orioles for a few years now…
this will definitely come in handy!
Derdriu on April 27, 2012:
GrandmaPearl, What a charming, lively, practical look at what Baltimore
orioles look for when scouting people’s yards! Me too, I find that the elm and
mulberry trees as well as the berry thicket near the vernal pool and the
teasle patch in the south meadow really draw in Baltimore orioles. Their song
is such a welcome note to spring!
Welcome to HubPages!
Respectfully, and with many thanks for sharing the information and the video,
Derdriu