They arrive in mid-March. Their hanging, pouch-like nests are woven with thousands of stitches and knots, all tied together with just their beaks. These masterpieces are the creations of our local Bullock’s and Hooded Orioles , using plant fibers, grasses, vines, and tree bark. They weave them high up in trees, often in palm trees.
Left: Male hooded oriole at an oriole feeder
The female oriole builds most of the nest and is the only one who incubates the eggs and raises the chicks after they hatch. She gets help from her mate to feed the chicks, which is good, because the entire process from egg laying to fledging takes only about 30 days. Orioles need the chicks to fly and grow, because they will begin returning to Mexico in September. Perhaps that is why parents often guide chicks to nectar feeders or jelly offerings so they can grow quickly.
One of the most popular fruit-eating birds in North America is the oriole. Of our nine species, the Baltimore oriole is common and widespread in the east, while the Bullock’s oriole is common in the west.
Our Bullock’s Orioles used to be considered the same species as the Eastern Baltimore Oriole, but genetic studies have shown that they are two distinct species. Bullock’s Orioles were named after William Bullock and his son for their ornithological work in Mexico in the early 19th century.
Right: A Bullock’s Oriole enjoys an orange half.
Both Hooded and Bullock Orioles are large songbirds, about eight inches long, but Hooded Orioles are more slender. Their “hoods” are yellow, not black. They eat mostly fruit and enjoy it in the form of nectar or jellies, if they can get it. They add flying insects to the menu, especially when they have growing chicks.
They arrive in mid-March and quickly get busy building nests and laying eggs so they can leave in September. You can attract them to your yard by having nectar available when they are looking for a nest location, as well as cut oranges and a dish of Birdberry jelly. You can also help by providing them with additional nest-making materials, such as natural fiber yarn, twine, or pieces of rope less than six inches long.
