Bullock's Orioles in Arizona
When Bullock's orioles are present in Arizona, when they nest, which native Arizona plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4b–10b yard.
- Status in Arizona
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–10b
When to expect Bullock's orioles in Arizona
Bullock's Orioles are summer residents in Arizona, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on caterpillars.
Hot Sonoran and Mojave deserts in the south and west, with pine-oak sky islands and the Colorado Plateau rising above 7,000 ft.
Nesting in Arizona
Across Arizona, Bullock's orioles typically nest from April–July. Nest site: hanging woven pouch. Females lay 4–5 eggs, incubate for 11–14 days, and young leave the nest after 12–14 days.
Summer highs above 110°F in Phoenix and Tucson make water the single strongest attractant; the July monsoon triggers a second breeding pulse.
- Bullock's Orioles don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, black cherry, american elderberry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Arizona plants that attract Bullock's orioles
Of the regional native plants we track for Arizona, these 8 provide food or cover Bullock's orioles use:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Blue fruit on red stems in early fall.
Scarlet late-summer spikes; a hummingbird magnet in moist soil.
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Feeding Bullock's orioles through the Arizona year
Weaves hanging nests in cottonwoods along western rivers.
- Best foods: Oranges, Grape jelly, Nectar.
- In Arizona's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for Bullock's orioles · Best feeder for Bullock's orioles
Frequently asked
Are Bullock's orioles in Arizona year-round?
No. Bullock's Orioles are summer breeders in Arizona and leave for the winter.
When do Bullock's orioles nest in Arizona?
Nesting in Arizona typically runs April–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 11–14 days.
What native plants attract Bullock's orioles in Arizona?
Smooth sumac, Black cherry, American elderberry, Virginia creeper, Cardinal flower, Wild bergamot, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood are native plants in Arizona that provide food or cover for Bullock's orioles.
Bullock's Orioles in other regions
Other backyard birds in Arizona
Sources
- Bullock's Oriole — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Bullock's Oriole life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Bullock's Oriole — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Arizona
- 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.