The Baltimore Oriole is a small black and orange songbird found in the eastern United States. With its bright plumage and lovely singing voice, the Baltimore Oriole is a joy to have visit your yard. But what exactly attracts Baltimore Orioles to a particular yard? There are several key factors that can draw these beautiful birds to your outdoor space.
Food Sources
Baltimore Orioles have a taste for sweeter foods like fruit, nectar, and sugars. By providing food sources like orange halves, grape jelly, sugar water nectar feeders, or flowering plants, you may catch the eye of nearby orioles. Be sure to place these food sources high up in open areas, as orioles tend to feed high in canopy areas. Avoid putting out rich nut butter suet cakes, as the Baltimore Oriole prefers less oily foods.
Here is a quick overview of the types of food that attract Baltimore Orioles:
Food | Details |
---|---|
Orange halves | Orioles love orange fruit; hang halves in trees or from porch roofs |
Grape jelly | Offer grape jelly in an open dish or an oriole feeder |
Sugar water | Prepare a nectar solution of 1 part sugar 4 parts water and fill nectar feeders |
Fruit | Try halved apples, banana pieces, berries |
Nectar-producing flowers | Plant flowers like trumpet vines, lilies, or native plants that produce nectar |
Water Features
In addition to food, a clean water source is very appealing to orioles during the warmer months when they are most active. The movement and sound of dripping or running water will grab the attention of orioles. You can offer water by setting up a bird bath, fountain, or other water feature. Be sure to freshen the water daily. Watering plants or dampening the ground also helps attract passing orioles looking for a fresh drink.
Shelter
Baltimore Orioles like areas with plenty of foliage and trees, so having a yard with some landscaping or native plants can be inviting. Orioles build remarkable woven hanging nests, so having trees with drooping branches and flexible vegetation gives them what they need for nesting materials and sites. In particular, they tend to prefer trees like elms, maples, willows, and cottonwoods. A yard with diverse flowering plants also naturally brings the insects that orioles feed upon.
High Perches
Orioles like to hunt for food high up with a broad vantage point. Providing perches such as feeding stations mounted on shepherd’s hooks, tall poles, or clothesline give them ideal spots for spotting food and scoping out threats. Hang bird feeders, fruit, and nectar feeders from high branches, porches, or balcony railings. Place perches in open areas away from dense cover.
Strategies to Attract Orioles
If you don’t yet see Baltimore Orioles visiting your yard, try some of these strategies to make your yard more attractive and welcoming to them:
Offer Preferred Food and Water Sources
As mentioned above, offering some of the orioles’ favorite foods is sure to grab their attention. Once you notice them feeding, maintain these food sources on a daily basis if possible. Providing fresh water in a bird bath, fountain, or by watering the ground are also great ways to appeal to orioles. They bathe frequently so are sure to visit water sources.
Add Fruit Bearing Trees or Shrubs
Planting vegetation that produces fruit, berries, or nectar provides natural food sources for orioles. Some great choices are flowering dogwood, crabapple, blackberry, raspberry, or honeysuckle bushes. Also be sure to keep your hummingbird feeders stocked, as orioles will drink the nectar as well. Choose native plant species when possible.
Put Up Nesting Platforms or Materials
Baltimore Orioles build remarkable hanging basket nests out of flexible fibers. Putting up nesting platforms made of natural fibers gives them a foundation to build upon. Leaving out basket-weaving yard, fibers, strings, or pet hair can provide the materials they need. Just make sure materials are natural, not synthetic or plastic.
Set Out Bright Accessories
Orioles are attracted to bright colors, especially orange, so setting out orange flagging tape, orange holiday lights, or orange ceramic dishes can catch their eye. Whistles are another accessory that mimic oriole song and calls and may draw their interest as well.
Play Recordings of Oriole Calls
You can often attract songbirds by playing recordings of bird calls and songs. This signals an area where others birds are present and communicates that a location is safe. Many recordings of Baltimore Oriole whistles, chattering, and singing are available online. Just be sure to only play recordings sparingly.
Remove Threats
Make sure your yard is safe for orioles by keeping away cats and reducing collisions. Unfortunately outdoor cats pose a major threat, so keeping cats indoors is best. Prevent window collisions by applying decals or hanging strings in front of windows. Eliminate use of pesticides which can poison birds.
Be Patient!
It may take time and persistence to convince orioles that your yard is the place to be. If you regularly see them in your area, continue providing the habitat, food and water that appeals to them and they should pay you a visit! It is often mid-spring through summer when they are most likely to come through.
Ideal Plants to Attract Baltimore Orioles
Along with offering oriole friendly feeders and food, consider planting some of these trees, shrubs, vines, and flowers that will naturally bring Baltimore Orioles into your yard:
Plant Name | Features |
---|---|
Trumpet Vines | Produces nectar laden flowers |
Crabapple | Provides fruit and insects that orioles feed on |
Maples | Preferred nesting tree, offers insects and shelter |
Native honeysuckles | Berries and dense foliage for nesting sites |
Flowering dogwoods | Offers berry-like drupes and showy flowers |
Mulberries | Produces sweet fruits that orioles relish |
Suet feeders | High energy suet cakes attract hungry migrating orioles |
Native Plants
Choosing native plants whenever possible is always a smart habitat choice. Native plant species are specially adapted to local soils and climate. They require less maintenance, provide ample food and shelter, and help expand the habitat for local and migrating birds. Check with your local nursery, conservation groups, or native plant societies for suggestions on fantastic native plants for orioles in your specific area.
Spotting Visiting Orioles
Once you’ve followed these tips to turn your yard into an oriole haven, here are some clues to look for to know if orioles are present:
Look and Listen
Orioles have distinct plumage and vocalizations. The male Baltimore Oriole has bright orange underparts and black on the head, wings and back. The female has paler orange underparts with duller olive-gray wings and back. Orioles make a sharp “chuck” note and more musical whistles and warbles.
Watch for Fruit Feeders
Scan fruit you’ve set out like oranges, berries, and jelly for neat slits or holes drilled into them. Orioles use their slender pointed bills to puncture fruit and slurp out the juice and contents. Discarded orange halves on the ground are a sure sign orioles have been feeding.
Check Nectar Feeders
Orioles will visit nectar feeders, favoring those with perches over typical hummingbird feeders. Look for larger beaks marks in the nectar ports. Watch for their larger bodies on feeder perches compared to tiny hummingbirds.
Inspect Nesting Areas
Look high in trees for the incredible pendulous nests Baltimore Orioles weave out of fibers. Nest areas may also reveal their presence, with clues like smaller strips of discarded fibers and nesting materials beneath the trees.
Identify Droppings
Oriole droppings tend to be clustered together in splatters on leaves, fences, cars, or patio furniture beneath their feeding areas. Their scat is medium sized and often orangish in color.
Discouraging Orioles
While most people enjoy sightings of Baltimore Orioles, you may need to discourage them from your yard on occasion. Here are some tips for gently deterring them:
Remove Food Sources
Since orioles are drawn by food, eliminate set out fruit, nectar, feeders, and unfurl hummingbird feeders when not in use. Avoid planting things like berry bushes, fruit trees, and trumpet vines. Remove any overripe fruit or berries from plants.
Take Down Feeders
Temporarily take down hanging fruit, jelly, and nectar feeders that the orioles are using. Consider leaving hummingbird feeders up as the smaller ports are only accessible to hummers.
Use Deterrents
Place owl decoys, hawk silhouettes or shiny reflective ribbons in your yard to scare orioles away. Wind chimes and metallic flash tape may also help deter them. Just be careful not to use anything harmful.
Use Water Deterrents
Orioles dislike moving water, so try using water spray deterrents on porches or patios where they are unwanted. Motion activated sprinklers may also convince them to move on.
Block Nesting Sites
You can discourage nesting by trimming away small branches on nesting trees and removing strands of fibers and hair around your yard that they use to build nests.
Be Patient
Orioles are only temporary visitors passing through to breed then migrate, so any unwanted behaviors in your yard should pass in time as they move on. Tolerating them briefly is best when possible.
Conclusion
With their bright plumage, cheerful song, and animated behavior, the sight of Baltimore Orioles can really add life and joy to your backyard. Use these tips to turn your outdoor space into a welcoming habitat that will attract them. Offering preferred food and water sources, providing shelter and nesting materials, and planting oriole favorites are sure ways to invite them in. Observe patiently and you should spot them feeding on fruit and nectar, building nests, and see them on migration. Once they discover your yard is an oriole paradise, they are sure to return year after year!