Baltimore Orioles in New York
When Baltimore orioles are present in New York, when they nest, which native New York plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–7b yard.
- Status in New York
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–7b
When to expect Baltimore orioles in New York
Baltimore Orioles are summer residents in New York, 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 continental, from cold Adirondack highlands to the maritime-moderated coast of Long Island.
Nesting in New York
Across New York, 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.
Warm summers with a shorter nesting season upstate than downstate.
- Baltimore Orioles don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as winterberry, arrowwood viburnum, eastern white pine for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native New York plants that attract Baltimore orioles
Of the regional native plants we track for New York, these 8 provide food or cover Baltimore orioles use:
Winter fruit.
Blue-black fall fruit and insect cover.
Seeds and year-round shelter.
Late-summer nectar.
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.
Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.
Feeding Baltimore orioles through the New York 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 New York'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 New York year-round?
No. Baltimore Orioles are summer breeders in New York and leave for the winter.
When do Baltimore orioles nest in New York?
Nesting in New York 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 New York?
Winterberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Eastern white pine, Cardinal flower, Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Staghorn sumac are native plants in New York that provide food or cover for Baltimore orioles.
Baltimore Orioles in other regions
Other backyard birds in New York
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 — New York
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- New York Breeding Bird Atlas III
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.