April 12, 2023

Attracting Baltimore Orioles in Northeast Ohio

Icterus galbula

Meet the Baltimore Oriole

In Northeast Ohio, where winter and spring seem to wrestle until winter must inevitably give way, there is no more certain a sign of spring’s triumph than the arrival of the Baltimore Oriole. That’s because while other migratory species may show up at feeders as early as February, it’s the sighting of Icterus galbula that indicates spring is here to stay. This member of the blackbird family spends winter down in Florida and Central & South American countries near the Caribbean, returning to our area to breed once weather conditions are right and natural food sources like nectar-rich flowers are coming back into bloom. You may hear & see an oriole as early as mid-April or as late as mid-May, depending how the season unfolds.

baltimore oriole habitat

Living on the Edge

While the species prefers to spend time in leafy, deciduous trees, it does not delve deep into the forest. It stays at the forest edge of tall shade trees, in groves of small trees, and in open woodland areas like that of a backyard or park. The species seems to have adapted somewhat comfortably to life around people, as well, making it even more likely to be spotted in such areas. You’re most likely to see a Baltimore Oriole if you listen for a whistle from the treetops and look up to catch a glimpse of the male’s telltale flash of orange, as he clambers across twigs like an acrobat.

Listen to Oriole Sounds

identifying features of orioles

blaze of glory

The male is recognized by his flaming orange-and-black color scheme, displaying an entirely black head and back, orange tail, and blazing orange breast and shoulder patch. While the male develops vibrant coloring in the 2nd year of life, the female gets bolder with age. Her plumage varies widely in the range of brown-to-yellow, but deepens every time she molts, sometimes rendering her feathers as showy as the male, in time.

Image Featured | A male hops around, spreading his wings to impress a female. Receptive to the courtship, she responds by fanning her tail, lowering, and chattering.

not what you might expect

a very unique nest

Baltimore orioles come north to raise their young, and their nests are quite a sight to see. Unlike typical cup-shaped nests, female orioles weave hanging nests, high in the upper branches of a tree, that more resemble socks, bags, purses, or gourds. A female constructs her distinctive nest by weaving together grass, strips of thin bark, animal hair, and other stringy “found” materials. Once the durable outer shell is formed, she lines the center with softer material such as down from Cottonwood trees or thistle seeds. Each nest is eventually filled with her clutch of 3 to 7 eggs.

Image Featured | A nestling calls or anticipates food from its sturdy nesting structure, tangled together by its mother.

timing is everything

To attract Baltimore Orioles in Northeast Ohio, place your feeders by May 1. Exhausted from the long migration flight north, they are drawn to easy sources of sugar that can be readily converted to fat for replenishing energy. Specialty feeders catering a buffet of liquid nectar, smooth grape jelly, and ripe orange halves simultaneously from a single, colorful orange display are a great option to start in spring. Try the Nature’s Way® All-In-One Oriole Buffet, which is a 3-in-1 feeder that also features a protective baffle, bee guard, and removable jelly dishes for easy cleaning & refilling.

Image Featured | Baltimore orioles sometimes feed by gaping – stabbing their closed bill into soft fruits, then opening their mouths to cut through the fleshy fruit, creating a swatch of juice that they use their tongues to drink.

changing appetites

While Baltimore Orioles have a serious sweet tooth for fruit, nectars and jellies, and suet, their appetite does shift as the season continues. Early summer, once nesting is complete, orioles prefer more “savory” foods, opting instead to feed on summer’s plentiful supply of insects, beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, moths, flies, spiders, snails, and some garden pests. This is because insects are rich in the growth proteins needed for both the adults and the nestlings at that time.

Continue attracting orioles (maybe even a fledgling!) to your feeder during summer by filling it with mealworms instead of jelly. Come late July, orioles will need to start re-building their fat stores for the return trip south, and so they’ll return to feasting on nectar and fruits. August through September, it’ll be helpful to them if you fill & maintain feeders with the same food sources offered in spring. Once fall is in full swing, it’ll be time to store your feeders for next year.

bring on the plants

what to grow to support orioles

From trees and shrubs to perennials, it’s fascinating to realize the many plants that serve the Baltimore Oriole well. Shade trees like American Elm, Cottonwood, and Maple are top on the list for a female looking to weave her distinctive nest. Fruiting shrubs & trees like Blueberry, Raspberry, Blackberry, Cherry, Elderberry, Mulberry, Serviceberry, and Crabapple also provide a natural food source. And, much like hummingbirds, orioles garner nectar from the tubular flowers produced by their go-to perennials including Trumpet Vine, Coral Honeysuckle, Bee Balm, and Cardinal Flower.

home is where the heart is

Baltimore Orioles have an incredibly strong homing instinct. If one can satisfy their needs for the ideal backyard environment by offering ample food, water, shelter, and nesting resources, they are highly likely to return in an orange flash to the same yard – even the very same tree – year after year. A gardener’s delight!

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