If you aren’t able to attend all of the sessions in the Songbird Station Spring Seminar Series this year-no worries! You can find the videos here!
Nest Box Seminar -March 14th
Attracting Hummingbirds, Orioles, & More! April 11th
Spring 2026 Seminars
Category: Orioles
Tips for Attracting Orioles
Tips for Attracting Orioles
Click here for full brochure – Oriole TIPs
Because of their strikingly beautiful black and orange
or yellow plumage, their distinctive whistle, spring
songs, and their amazing suspended nest, Orioles are
quickly becoming one of America’s favorite birds. While
over eight species of Orioles can regularly be seen in the
United States, we’ll deal mainly in this flyer with three
species: Baltimore, Bullocks, and Orchard (range maps
on back page). All United States Orioles show variation
on the theme of black and orange or yellow plumage.
Except for in the Southeast, all Orioles are tropical
migrants. While migrations vary from year-to-year,
Orioles generally arrive in the South in early spring,
Midwest in early May, and further North soon afterward.
It is very important that you have Oriole feeders up and
ready, or often they will pass you by for better feeding
grounds. It is equally important to have nesting
materials out and ready to help encourage Orioles to
nest in your yard. Although studies are still being done
on how much we can tempt Orioles to nest in backyards,
by summer’s end, migrating Orioles are headed back
south to their tropical winter homes in Central and South
America. It does appear that Baltimore Oriole’s ranges
are expanding, while Bullocks and Orchard Orioles are
declining. All Orioles need and benefit from your help.
Orioles Seminar – Products
Below is a list of products described in the “Attracting Orioles” seminar. They can all be purchased at Songbird Station. Not local? Contact us and we will help locate your local wild bird supplier.
Attract Orioles to Your Backyard
Missouri’s brightly colored summer residents, the Baltimore Oriole and Orchard Oriole, have quickly become two of our favorite birds. With their striking black and orange or yellow plumage and their rich musical songs, these birds delight us when they’re in our area from spring to late fall.
They’re rather shy, solitary birds, so it may be difficult at first to attract Orioles to your yard. Don’t place feeders real close to busy human activity or other feeding areas.
Keep reading for more tips on what they need as far as food, water and shelter.
Quality Food:
Orioles prefer nectar, fruit and jelly, so feeding them is a little less messy than some other birds — no scattered seedl They also eat many insects, which provides natural and effective pest control in yards and gardens.
It’s important to get Oriole food and feeders ready early in the migrating season (late March or early April), since they migrate at night — they’re worn out from their travels when they approach your yard, and you don’t want them to pass you by!
Oranges are one of the keys to attracting Orioles: Cut them in half and offer them “juicy side out”. They also like grape jelly and specialized nectar.
You can offer Oriole nectar, jelly and other fruit on special feeders by your home and patio. A great feeder to try is the Songbird Essentials Jelly Feeder, which slips right on to store-bought jars of jelly or jam. Very easy to use and cleanl There’s even a special combination of all-natural grape and blackberry jam that we cleverly named “BirdJam” — yes, Woodpeckers, Robins, Warblers and other birds like jellies and jams too.
ff you’d prefer to use nectar, a specialized Oriole nectar works better than the sugar/water mixture that is often offered to Hummingbirds.
There are some Oriole Feeders that are specially designed to allow you to offer fruit, nectar or jelly — stop in to Songbird Station and we can show you how they work!
Clean, Fresh Water:
Orioles are especially attracted to shallow bird baths and moving water, so adding something like a bubbler or dripper will product the sparkles and splashes to attract them. Adding orange decorations to your bird bath can help too. (In fact, orange flowers and garden accents such as gazing balls or garden flags can also get Orioles’ attention and encourage a visit.
Safe, Secure Shelter:
Orioles prefer protected spaces like leafy deciduous trees and dense shrubs, especially if they’re placed in clumps or thickets.
They don’t use bird houses as such; rather they build an amazing pendulous nest if you have the nesting materials they prefer. Willow, elm, oak, popular and cottonwood trees offer suitable material. You can encourage them by offering long strips of twine or horse hair.