There is nothing quite like seeing these flash of orange dart across your yard.  Orioles are related to blackbirds, but unlike the blackbirds, orioles spend their lives in the trees.  Because they are treetop residents, it's easy to miss  seeing an oriole in your yard.  But orioles aren't shy of people, so if you plant and offer items that orioles find irresistible, you will see them.

Insects are the mainstay of an oriole's diet.  Caterpillars are their all time favorite.  But weevils, beetles, moths, aphids, and a wide range of other critters are also sought out by orioles.  Additionally, orioles have a sweet tooth.  They will drink nectar from nectar feeders or from tubular flowers.
 
 
 

If you want to attract an oriole to a feeder, try a nectar feeder with perches filled with orange flavored nectar.  Orioles will also at time patronize suet feeders.  At a tray feeder, you can try various fruits, like cherries, orange halves, strawberries, grapes and figs. You can also try bread or other baked goods at a tray feeder.

Another sure fire way is to plant fruiting plants like a cherry tree, blackberries, elderberries, mulberries, strawberries, and grapes.  You can also plant tubular type flowers, flowering agaves, aloes, cacti, rose-of-Sharon, and hibiscus.
 
 
 
 

Ways to Attract Birds to your Yard

Feeding the Birds	Providing Water for the Birds
Providing Housing for the Birds	Landscaping and Gardening for the Birds
Other Methods to Attract Birds	Providing Safety for Birds

 
 
 

Other Birds You May Want to Attract

Back to the Main Page	Attracting Hummingbirds
Attracting Bluebirds	Attracting Cardinals
Attracting Finches	Attracting Buntings
Attracting Woodpeckers	Attracting Tanagers

 

Since June 24, 1999