The Baltimore Oriole is a vibrant, migratory songbird recognized for its striking orange and black plumage. Understanding their natural diet and what attracts them to feeders helps enthusiasts appreciate and support them. Their diet is diverse, adapting to seasonal availability.
Wild Foraging Habits
During the breeding season, a significant portion of their diet consists of insects, which provide the protein necessary for raising their young. They consume a wide array of insects, including caterpillars (even hairy varieties often avoided by other birds), beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, cicadas, moths, and flies, along with spiders and snails. These birds are adept at foraging, often gleaning insects from the foliage of trees and shrubs, and sometimes catching them in mid-air.
As seasons change, particularly in spring and fall, their diet shifts to energy-rich foods like nectar and ripe fruits. This dietary change provides the sugary fuel needed for their long migrations to and from their wintering grounds in Central and South America. They show a preference for dark-colored, ripe fruits, such as mulberries, red cherries, and deep-purple grapes. Orioles also consume nectar from various flowering trees and plants, including trumpet vine, honeysuckle, and jewelweed.
Providing Food in Your Yard
Attracting Baltimore Orioles to your yard involves offering specific foods. Orioles are particularly fond of sweet, high-energy options. A popular offering is orange halves, which can be impaled on specialized feeders or placed on platform feeders. The bright color of the orange also helps attract these birds.
Another common and effective food is grape jelly, which orioles are drawn to due to its sweetness. It should be offered in shallow dishes or specialized jelly feeders, and it is important to use jelly without artificial sweeteners or colors. Sugar water, similar to hummingbird nectar (one part sugar to four parts water), is also consumed by orioles from nectar feeders. These feeders should have larger ports. While less common, some orioles may visit suet feeders, especially those with fruit pieces, or consume mealworms, particularly during nesting season for protein.
For a natural approach, planting native fruit-bearing trees and shrubs to provide a sustained food source. Examples include black cherry, blueberry, serviceberry, red mulberry, raspberries, and blackberries. Avoid offering processed foods, artificial sweeteners, or excessive jelly, as these can be unhealthy. Regularly cleaning feeders and replacing food to prevent spoilage and mold is important for the birds’ health.