An oriole flyby is enough to distract anyone who longs to catch a glimpse of these brilliant birds flitting about. With tangerine-yellow bodies highlighted by striking black markings, orioles are one of our vibrant tropical migrants, the name for birds that breed in the United States and southern Canada but mostly overwinter in the tropics. Learn how to attract and identify these seasonal stunners. Gregory Lis Shown: A bullock’s oriole perches on purple sage (Salvia dorrii). Jess Common and scientific names: Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula), Bullock’s oriole (I. bullockii), orchard oriole (I. spurius) and hooded oriole (I. cucullatu)

Distribution: Baltimore and orchard orioles are found east of the Rocky Mountains, while Bullock’s orioles are found west of the Rockies. In some Great Plains states, bird-watchers are lucky enough to witness all three species in their overlapping territories. Hooded orioles inhabit small patches of the Southwest (parts of Arizona, California and New Mexico).

Shown: The male Baltimore oriole has a solid-black head. Davina Stewart Shown: A Baltimore oriole forages with other tropical migrants in his winter range. Le jardinet Habitat: Orioles prefer open woodlands, forest edges, orchards and lines of trees along creeks, rivers or parks. These birds are seen flying from treetop to treetop in search of flower nectar, fruit and insects. The hooded oriole is one exception to this habitat preference. It lives in more arid regions and has adapted to desert oases; however, like all oriole species, it will visit suburban yards that are rich in fruit-producing trees and shrubs.

When to look for them: Orioles will start to appear in southern states in mid-to-late February and head north slowly, arriving all the way north by March or April. This depends on weather and food sources. How to Identify Orioles

Like many birds exhibiting sexual dimorphism, spotting orioles is easiest if you see the breeding males. The vibrant coloration reminds us of the tropical environments where they spend their winters. Male Bullock’s orioles, like the one shown here, are known for their fire-orange and black markings. They have a mask-like marking on the head. Orange is prominent on the face, with a black line running from beak to the back of the head. They also have a black cap and throat, and white wing bars.

Male Baltimore orioles show similar coloration but have a solid-black head, a white wing bar, and an orange chest and stomach. Lois Manowitz Breeding hooded orioles, like the one shown on this blooming agave (Agave americana), have an orange-yellow head, nape, rump and body underparts. A black bib and mask accompany this. Their wings are black with two white wing bars. Their range is limited, so they’re not as commonly seen.

In comparison, breeding orchard orioles, shown in the next photo, have more subdued coloration, with a rusty-chestnut chest accompanied by a black head and throat. Kevin Jack Listen for them. Another way to identify orioles is by their distinctive songs. Baltimore orioles have a whistle-like sound that is a sound of summer for bird-watchers. Bullock’s orioles have more chatter and scratchy notes woven into their song. Orchard orioles have a singsong whistle, sometimes mistaken for the call of an American robin, that is both a delight and a nuisance for orchardists. Lastly, hooded orioles have the most chattery song — a mixture of fast question- and statement-like sounds. Distinguish between females and males. The females for all these oriole species, while considered less showy than the males, are still delicately beautiful. Female Baltimore orioles (top left) have a dull yellow chest, gray-black head and white wing bars. Female Bullock’s orioles (top right) display yellowish orange on the head and tail, with a grayish back. Female orchard orioles (bottom left) have a greenish-yellow body with white wing bars and no black. They’re almost identical to female hooded orioles (bottom right), which have a greenish-yellow head, rump and tail, and white wing bars.

Photos by (clockwise from top left): Deborah Bifulco, Alan Schmierer, Lois Manowitz and Terry & Joanne Johnson Malcolm Benn How to Attract Orioles

Plant natives. Orioles love insects. Common favorites include grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, ants, stinkbugs, leafhoppers and treehoppers. They also will eat bees and caterpillars. Before partaking, however, they will remove the unsavory parts: the stinger from bees and spiky skin from caterpillars.

To attract an ample supply of insects, plant native trees, shrubs and flowers in your yard. Many native insects need native plants to survive, making even insectivorous birds dependent on the plants you select for your yard.

Shown: A Baltimore oriole flies away with its prey.

Browse native plants for your region Diane Marshman Leave out fresh fruit. Providing fresh fruit also can encourage orioles to visit your yard. Cut an orange in half and nail it to a fence post, hang it on a tree branch or place it on a dish. Orioles will swoop down and engage in a feeding strategy called “gaping.” To release the juice from the orange, the oriole will use its closed bill to thrash around in the skin and flesh of the fruit. It then will lap up the oozing liquid with its brushy tongue.

Some homeowners have found jams or jellies placed in a dish to be a favorite meal. We discourage this in part because jams and jellies are loaded with processed sugar, and sometimes contain artificial flavors. Neither ingredient is necessary for orioles. Sticking with fresh fruit provides them with the most well-rounded nutritional snack.

Shown: A Baltimore oriole enjoys fresh fruit.
Steve Shelasky Nesting

Baltimore and Bullock’s orioles build intricate fibrous nests, which can take up to 15 days to construct, to hold their eggs. Orioles usually will have one brood with a clutch of three to seven eggs. The Baltimore oriole shown here has built its impressive nest in an eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides). Henry T. McLin Orchard orioles use a similar nest construction, shown here, but their nests are more stout than the Baltimore’s and Bullock’s. Nests vary in width and length, but they average less than 4 inches wide and up to 15 inches long. Bullock’s orioles generally have the longest nests. budgora Orioles use feathers or cottony materials to create a soft inner lining, as seen in this hooded oriole nest. Hooded orioles build shallower nests that are cup-like instead of the deeper gourd-like shape.

Shown: Hooded orioles often build their nests in palm trees. A hooded oriole has sewn together a palm leaf, leaving an opening to get in and out, and has provided a fluffy cotton batting on which to raise its young. Christine Baird Nests are mostly constructed by females, like this busy Baltimore oriole female in the middle of construction. Males participate by providing building material like hair, twine, grasses or wool.

Nest construction begins once an oriole has secured a mate and trees have leafed out, which could be in late April or May, depending on region and weather. Chuck Carlson More orioles. In the Great Plains, hybrids resulting from interbreeding of Baltimore and Bullock’s orioles often cause birders to do double takes, as the hybrids have features of both species. The bird shown here in Montana is a cross between a Baltimore oriole and a Bullock’s oriole. At first glance, it appears to have many characteristics of a Baltimore oriole, but this male has more wing bars, like a Bullock’s oriole. Each hybrid individual can look slightly different, making witnessing them an interesting experience. Additional species of orioles are found in the United States, but they are seen less frequently and live in more specialized regions. They include the Altamira oriole (Icterus gularis), shown here, as well as the spot-breasted oriole (I. pectoralis), the Audubon’s oriole (I. graduacauda), the Scott’s oriole (I. parisorum), the very rare black-vented oriole (I. wagleri) and the streak-backed oriole (I. pustulatus), also very rare. What do birds have to do with your morning brew? Orioles are considered tropical migrants, meaning that most species nest in the United States and southern Canada in the summer but spend their winters in the tropics of Central and South America, the coffee farm mecca.

Photo by Yuko Honda When these birds head south, they are looking for intact, habitat-rich landscapes to forage in for the winter. Coffee operations (like Selva Negra in Nicaragua, pictured) that engage in bird-friendly agricultural practices (like shade-grown coffee) are plantations where birds can find this high-quality habitat. Thus, if you purchase coffee certified by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center as “bird friendly,” you are doing a small part to help ensure that these birds find healthy ecosystems in their winter territories.

To learn more about orioles, explore The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds.

YardMap is a citizen science project developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, designed to cultivate a richer understanding of bird habitat, for both professional scientists and people concerned with their local environment. Thousands of people are documenting their conservation efforts at home to support birds and other wildlife in their yards.

Photo by Marshal Hedin

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