Oriole feeders

What orioles take at a feeder

Orioles eat insects, ripe fruit and nectar. At a feeder they take orange halves, grape jelly and a sugar-water nectar, and they sometimes sip at hummingbird feeders. An oriole feeder holds the same kind of nectar but is orange, with bigger ports and perches that fit an oriole’s longer bill and heavier body.

They pick the ripest, darkest fruit, so offer fresh orange halves and replace them before they dry out.

Jelly and nectar, a little at a time

Grape jelly is almost all sugar: put out a spoonful or two at a time in a small dish rather than a full jar, and add more when it is gone. Jelly that sits in the sun turns runny and draws wasps.

For nectar, mix 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water, the same recipe as for hummingbirds, with no red dye. In hot weather, empty and wash the feeder every day or two.

When and where to hang it

Orioles winter from Mexico to northern South America and return in spring. Hang the feeder a week or two before they usually arrive where you live, in the open where a passing oriole sees the orange, and keep it going through summer: orioles that find a well-kept feeder bring their young to it.

Ants and cleaning

An ant moat above the feeder stops ants while it holds water, so top it up at each refill. Wash jelly dishes and nectar ports with hot water every few days, and scrub off any mold before you refill.