Orioles are medium-sized songbirds in the genus Icterus of the family Icteridae. There are about 30 different species of orioles found throughout the Americas. Orioles are brightly colored birds with black, yellow, orange, rufous or red plumage. They have a slender, pointed bill and feed primarily on insects, fruit and nectar. Orioles build pendulous nests that hang from the branches of trees. Two of the most widespread and recognized oriole species in North America are the Baltimore Oriole and Bullock’s Oriole. When it comes to their diet, orioles are opportunistic feeders that like a variety of different foods. But research shows that there are certain foods that orioles prefer over others.
Insects
Insects and other arthropods make up a major part of most oriole species’ diets. Orioles often feed on caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, spiders and many other insects they find while foraging in trees and bushes. The long, pointed beak of orioles is well-adapted for spearing and grasping insects. Orioles use their beaks to probe into crevices in bark, dig under loose scales of tree bark and explore leaf clusters searching for insects to eat. They also routinely hawk flying insects from the air. Caterpillars are a favorite prey item, likely because they are soft-bodied and packed with protein and nutrients. Some ornithologists estimate that insects and arthropods make up over 50% of most oriole species diets during the breeding season when they need extra protein. The availability of key insect food sources influences decisions on territory selection and nest timing for many orioles. So insects are clearly one of the most important foods for orioles.
Insect Foods | Details |
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Caterpillars | A preferred food source due to high protein. |
Beetles | Particularly weevils and leaf beetles. |
Grasshoppers | Also crickets and katydids. |
Spiders | Variety of spiders are eaten. |
Ants | Orioles flick ants off vegetation. |
Wasps | Both adults and larvae. |
Flies | Including craneflies and horseflies. |
Fruit
Fruit is another major component of oriole diets, especially during fall migration and winter months when insect prey is less abundant. Orioles relish sugary ripe fruits like berries, cherries, figs and oranges. They use their pointed bills to puncture soft fruits to get at the sugary juice and pulp inside. Orioles also feed on the fruits of palms, bananas, mangoes and citrus trees in tropical areas wintering grounds. Fruit may occasionally makes up over 90% of an oriole’s diet during certain times of year. The diversity of fruit species eaten by orioles includes both native and cultivated exotic fruits. Orioles help disperse the seeds of native fruits they eat. Popular backyard fruits offered to attract orioles include oranges, grape jelly, apples and mealworms. Though insects are preferred, fruit can help provide orioles carbohydrates and some nutrients when other foods are scarce.
Fruit Foods | Details |
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Berries | Especially mulberries, elderberries and blackberries. |
Cherries | A highly preferred fruit. |
Citrus fruit | Such as oranges and grapefruit. |
Figs | Figs are an important winter fruit. |
Apples | A common feeder fruit offering. |
Mangoes | Eaten on tropical winter grounds. |
Palm fruits | An important winter food source. |
Nectar
Though not as strictly nectarivorous as hummingbirds, some oriole species also drink nectar from flowers as part of their diet. Orioles have been observed visiting flowers and feeding on nectar from a variety of blooming trees, shrubs, succulents and herbaceous plants. They use their thin pointed bills to probe into flowers and lap up sweet nectar. Though smaller than hummingbird bills, oriole beaks seem well suited for nectar feeding. However they cannot hover in place like hummingbirds and must perch while feeding. Some of the flower species visited by orioles include trumpet vines, honeysuckle, agave, aloe, salvia, fuchsia, morning glory, columbine and milkweed. The carbohydrate rich nectar provides quick energy. Though insects and fruit make up more of their overall diet, nectar feeding allows orioles to exploit an abundant seasonal food source in many habitats.
Nectar Food Sources | Details |
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Trumpet vines | Orioles feed on the nectar. |
Honeysuckle | A popular nectar source. |
Fuchsia | Especially the hanging varieties. |
Salvia | Orioles visit colorful tubular flowers. |
Agave | An important nectar source in the southwest. |
Aloe | A winter nectar source. |
Milkweed | Provides nectar rewards when in bloom. |
Preferred Foods of Specific Oriole Species
While all orioles share a generalized diet as described above, different oriole species may prefer certain food items over others. Here are some of the favorite foods of three widespread North American oriole species:
Baltimore Oriole
The Baltimore Oriole is a common species found in deciduous forests in eastern North America. Favorite foods include:
– Caterpillars – especially gypsy moth caterpillars, tent caterpillars and fall webworms.
– Beetles – favorites include weevils, leaf beetles and longhorn beetles.
– Berries – mulberries, raspberries and blackberries.
– Oranges and apples – readily feed on sliced fruit at feeders.
– Flower nectar – especially from trumpet vine and crabapple blossoms.
Bullock’s Oriole
Bullock’s Orioles live in open woodlands in western North America. Some preferred foods are:
– Caterpillars – eat tent caterpillars, forest caterpillars.
– Beetles – many types of leaf beetles.
– Moths – plume moths, geometrid moth larvae.
– Figs – an important food where available.
– Agave nectar – major nectar source in southwest habitats.
Orchard Oriole
The Orchard Oriole inhabits open wooded areas in central and eastern U.S. Favorite foods include:
– Caterpillars – prefers softer caterpillars like tent worms.
– Aphids – feeds on harmful orchard crop pests.
– Beetles – many leaf beetles and weevils.
– Cherries – prefers ripe cherries.
– Flower nectar – key nectar sources are clovers, apple blossoms and catalpas.
Foods Fed to Orioles at Backyard Feeders
Many people try to attract orioles to their backyards by offering foods that orioles are known to prefer. Here are some of the top foods used for feeding orioles:
Feeder Food Item | Details |
---|---|
Oranges | Halved or sliced oranges are eagerly eaten by orioles. |
Mealworms | A high protein food supplemental to insects. |
Jelly | Orange marmalade or grape jelly is a favorite. |
Nectar | Sugar water nectar attracts orioles. |
Orioles jelly | Commercial fruit jelly blends with sugars. |
Fruit | Such as apples, cherries, bananas, grapes. |
Offering a combination of sweeter fruit and sugar sources along with protein from mealworms can help satisfy an oriole’s diverse diet. Orioles readily adapt to backyard feeders. Providing some of their favorite foods is a good way to observe these beautiful birds up close.
Conclusion
Orioles are remarkable birds with a diverse, opportunistic diet. While they will eat a wide variety of insects, fruits and nectar, research shows that certain food items are preferred by orioles and form the staples of their diet. Caterpillars and beetles are a prime insect food source high in protein. Berries, cherries and citrus fruits provide carbohydrates and nutrients. Trumpet vines, fuchsias and agaves offer sustaining nectar in different habitats. Specific species also show preferences for certain fruits and insects. People can attract orioles to backyards by offering some of their favorite foods like oranges, mealworms, jelly and nectar. Understanding what orioles like to eat the most helps us appreciate the biology and behavior of these amazing birds. Orioles are a splash of color and vitality, lighting up backyards and forests as they forage.