Baltimore Orioles in Maryland
When Baltimore orioles are present in Maryland, when they nest, which native Maryland plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 6a–8a yard.
- Status in Maryland
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 6a–8a
When to expect Baltimore orioles in Maryland
Baltimore Orioles are summer residents in Maryland, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on tent caterpillars and gypsy moth larvae.
Humid subtropical on the Chesapeake coastal plain, cooler in the Appalachian west.
Nesting in Maryland
Across Maryland, Baltimore orioles typically nest from May–July. Nest site: deep hanging pouch woven at the tip of a tall branch. Females lay 3–7 eggs, incubate for 11–14 days, and young leave the nest after 12–14 days.
Hot, humid summers around the Chesapeake.
- Baltimore Orioles don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as flowering dogwood, eastern red cedar, serviceberry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Maryland plants that attract Baltimore orioles
Of the regional native plants we track for Maryland, these 8 provide food or cover Baltimore orioles use:
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.
Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Feeding Baltimore orioles through the Maryland year
Put orange halves out the week orioles are due back — they stay where they find food on arrival.
- Best foods: Orange halves, Grape jelly (in small amounts), Nectar.
- Avoid: Large amounts of jelly for nestlings — offer mealworms instead once young hatch.
- In Maryland's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for Baltimore orioles · Best feeder for Baltimore orioles
Frequently asked
Are Baltimore orioles in Maryland year-round?
No. Baltimore Orioles are summer breeders in Maryland and leave for the winter.
When do Baltimore orioles nest in Maryland?
Nesting in Maryland typically runs May–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–7 eggs, incubated for 11–14 days.
What native plants attract Baltimore orioles in Maryland?
Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac, White oak, Black cherry are native plants in Maryland that provide food or cover for Baltimore orioles.
Baltimore Orioles in other regions
Other backyard birds in Maryland
Sources
- Baltimore Oriole — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Baltimore Oriole life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Baltimore Oriole — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Maryland
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.