BALTIMORE ORIOLE
(Icterus galbula)
The lovely Baltimore Oriole is unmistakable and we see them in the early summer, but then they leave by the beginning of July, having bred and raised their families here in Southern Ontario.
They breed as far north as the Near Arctic as well as Quebec, New Brunswick and through the Eastern United States and winter in Mexico.
These are medium-sized birds typically measuring 7" to 8" in length with a wingspan of between 9" and 12".
They have a long tail, are a beautiful orange colour with a black head and have black and white bars on the wings.
As with other birds the male is often larger than the female.
They prefer leafy deciduous trees in open woodlands and forest edges and especially along riverbanks and wooded wetlands.
Except during the mating season, the Orioles are solitary birds, but in spring the males will establish a territory and will display to attract females by singing and chattering to them.
During their display dance they bow with their wings lowered and their tail fanned ... which the females find irresistible!
Once the pair have formed, the female builds the nest which is a tightly woven pouch of plant or animal material which hangs down at the end of a branch.
The hen Oriole lays a clutch of between 3 and 7 eggs in the nest which hatch at the end of 12 to 14 days incubation.
Both parents feed the little hatchlings by regurgitating food for them and they are kept warm and safe by their mother for two weeks at the end of which time, the little ones grow their feathers and are ready to leave the nest.
The food of the Baltimore Oriole is mainly berries, insects, caterpillars and nectar from flowers, and they are often seen sipping nectar from Hummingbird feeders and larger Oriole feeders can also be purchased which have perches for them to sit on while feeding.
Baltimore Oriole by Jo-Anne Cambridge
We have found that half an orange on a post will attract them, and they also love Grape Jelly.
If you want to attract them to your garden a feeder or half an orange is a good way to start, but you also might want to consider planting the foods they enjoy, such as mulberries, cherries, purple grapes, and don't use pesticides!
If there are Orioles around your garden, if you put food out such as oranges and bananas, the parents will bring their young round.
Photo of Male Baltimore Oriole and youngster (left)
Published by kind permission of Maureen Harper
Baltimore Oriole Info ...
Baltimore Oriole - All About Birds
Do you have a great story about Baltimore Orioles in your area?
Let us know where and when you sighted your first returning Baltimore Oriole of the Spring. It is interesting to see when and where the first Orioles are sighted, so we'd be happy to hear about your sighting!
If you get a picture, we'd love to see that too!
What Other Visitors Have Said
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Georgetown Baltimore Oriole 
Here are a few recent shots I took of some Baltimore Orioles at the feeder.
The lovely song of the Baltimore Oriole, echoing from treetops …
Has anyone ever seen a fluffy Oriole?
I've never seen an Oriole with fluffy feathers like this.
Is it a baby? Seems early in the season for that (Mid-May).
Any other ideas? I live in …
Found a bunch of Baltimore Orioles in Richmond Hill
While walking the path in Richmond Hill, I noticed a lovely orange bird singing a beautiful song on the tree next to me.
I snapped a few …
A couple of a baltimore Oriole in my backyard in Mississauga- ON- May 2011
Hi there. Well, I'm very lucky this year to have a couple of Orioles.
Beautiful bird, and as you can see the pictures, the male is very comfortable …
Oriole
I have seen it only once in my yard. So beautiful. It sat there for a few minutes and went away.
Would they come back? I am in the Stratford-Waterloo …
Beautiful Baltimore Orioles Not rated yet
Dodie from Port Dover wrote to tell us about her Oriole sightings and sent these beautiful pictures, she said ... I took these photos over the summer 2022 …
Love watching the Orioles Not rated yet
From last summer ... last night while enjoying our dinner we had three Orioles join us.
UPDATE 2021 - So excited to see the Orioles have returned …
Eight Baltimores Joined by One Orchard Oriole Not rated yet
Felt my feeders were hosting the same birds every day, that is until May 11th. When we came home from outing, couldn't believe that I was seeing Rose Breasted …
Baltimore Orioles at Hummingbird Feeder Not rated yet
Two pairs of Baltimore Orioles have returned to Susan Court, Oshawa this Spring!
They are very skittish, and are hard to catch on pixels!
But I …
Beautiful Baltimore Oriole Not rated yet
We have a nesting pair of Baltimore Orioles this year. They have been daily visitors since early May, it is now the end of June.
We always have several …
Baltimore Oriole Sightings Not rated yet
Dave wrote to tell us ... I had my Oriole feeder out for about 2 weeks, expecting them to arrive in the Camlachie area on a warm, moderate south wind. …
They made it back from warmer climes. Not rated yet
Baltimore Oriole,a very welcome visitor to any garden.
We also saw our first Baltimore Oriole on Sunday, singing his heart out, in the lilac tree in …
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