Birdfeeders

It wasn’t too many years ago that orioles rarely visited feeders. Now, they seem to have learned that oriole feeders mean food. From spring until fall, they are frequent visitors to oriole feeders over much of the United States. They move far southward in winter, but these bright colored birds are a joy to have visit our yard. The most common species is the northern oriole which includes the eastern Baltimore race and the western Bullock’s race. Both are bright orange and black, but the Bullock’s also has big white wing patches and the Baltimore has a full black hood. In the southwest, the hooded oriole has an orange hood and a black throat and breast. Commonly seen in the southwest is Scott’s oriole which is vivid yellow and black. These beautiful birds will frequently visit oriole feeders but will also be drawn to orange halves.