The bright orange and black-colored Baltimore Orioles can be seen at Tara starting with spring migration in mid- to late-April. They are often found in open woodland or singing high in trees.
They spend the winter in Florida, the Caribbean, northern South America, and Central America. Migration south starts in late summer.
Food
Baltimore Orioles feed on insects, berries, and nectar. During the spring, they mainly feed on fruits. We put out oranges sliced in half to attract the birds on the back porch of Tara Lodge.
Nesting
Females will nest high up in a tree, using found fibers, both natural and man-made to weave a hanging nest. She pushes and pulls the fibers around one another, creating a strong, woven pattern that will make up a nest. The inside of the nest is lined with soft downy fibers, feathers, and the like. It takes about a week to make a nest. The eggs will be incubated for 12 to 14 days and young chicks fledge in about as many days.
Young Male Orioles
Young male Orioles don’t have the bright orange feathers seen on adults until after the fall of their second year. Until then, they have a more muted color. Each year after they molt, female Baltimore Orioles will deepen in color.
More information
- Listen to the calls of the Baltimore Oriole: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Baltimore_Oriole/sounds
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Audubon Field Guide
