The best bird feeder and seed for orioles
Need larger perches and bigger ports than hummingbirds; oriole feeders are orange, not red. Put oranges and jelly out before the first orioles are due; the first days after arrival decide whether they stay.
Which feeder types do orioles use?
| Feeder | Holds | Squirrels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oriole feeder | Nectar, jelly, oranges | Low | Orange-coloured with jelly cups and orange spikes. |
| Hummingbird feeder | Nectar | None | Saucer feeders with no yellow parts attract fewer bees. An ant moat above the feeder stops ants. |
Feeders orioles use, budget to premium
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What seed do orioles like best?
| Food | Why | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Fruit (oranges, apples, berries) | Orange halves on a spike are the standard oriole offer. Replace fruit before it ferments. | Fresh only |
| Grape jelly | Offer a spoonful in a small dish rather than a deep pot, and use plain grape jelly without artificial sweeteners. It is a treat, not a diet. | Fresh daily |
| Nectar (sugar water) | Plain white table sugar and water at 1:4. No red dye, honey, brown sugar or sweeteners. Change it on the temperature schedule. | Fridge for up to a week |
| Mealworms | Dried mealworms are easy to store; soaking them briefly in warm water makes them more appealing. Live worms work best for bluebirds. | Dried keep for months; live need refrigeration |
Food to buy for orioles
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Where and when should you feed orioles?
- Height and spot: 5 to 6 feet, in the open, visible from the air.
- When: Arrive in spring migration and feed heavily on fruit and jelly on arrival.
- Range: Baltimore in the East, Bullock's in the West, hooded and Scott's in the Southwest.
- Feeding style: Feeds at hanging feeders; a pole with a baffle keeps squirrels off without bothering them.
The same setup also brings hummingbirds, which use the same feeder types.
Nesting: A woven hanging pouch at the tip of a high branch. Do orioles use birdhouses?
Feeders for other birds
Cardinals · Blue Jays · Goldfinches · House Finches · Chickadees · Titmice · Nuthatches · Woodpeckers · Bluebirds · Wrens · Hummingbirds · Mourning Doves · Juncos · Native Sparrows · Towhees · Grosbeaks · Robins · Mockingbirds · Pine Siskins · Purple Finches · Redpolls · Keeping starlings and grackles away · Red-bellied Woodpeckers · Downy Woodpeckers · Cedar Waxwings · Quail
Get the orioles feeding checklist
Feeder, seed, height and cleaning schedule for orioles on one printable page.
Used only to send the checklist.Frequently asked questions
What is the best bird feeder for orioles?
A oriole feeder is the most reliable choice for orioles. Need larger perches and bigger ports than hummingbirds; oriole feeders are orange, not red. Pair it with fruit (oranges, apples, berries), place it 5 to 6 feet, in the open, visible from the air, and keep it clean every two weeks. A second feeder type such as a hummingbird feeder widens the appeal without adding much work.
What do orioles eat at feeders?
In order of preference: fruit (oranges, apples, berries), grape jelly, nectar (sugar water) and mealworms. Orange halves on a spike are the standard oriole offer. Replace fruit before it ferments. Offer one food per feeder rather than a mix, so birds are not flicking unwanted grains onto the ground to get at the one they want.
Where should I put a feeder for orioles?
5 to 6 feet, in the open, visible from the air. Keep it within 3 feet of a window or beyond 30 feet to avoid collisions, at least 10 feet from anything a squirrel can jump from, and 10 to 12 feet from dense shrubs so orioles can reach cover without cats being able to ambush them.
When do orioles come to feeders?
Arrive in spring migration and feed heavily on fruit and jelly on arrival. Range: Baltimore in the East, Bullock's in the West, hooded and Scott's in the Southwest. Keep feeders stocked and clean through the season orioles are present in your area, since a feeder that is empty for several days is often abandoned for a neighbour's.
Do orioles use birdhouses?
No. A woven hanging pouch at the tip of a high branch. Offer short lengths of natural fibre in spring and feed oranges and jelly. Orioles do not use boxes.