Bullock's Orioles in California
When Bullock's orioles are present in California, when they nest, which native California plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5a–11a yard.
- Status in California
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5a–11a
When to expect Bullock's orioles in California
Bullock's Orioles are summer residents in California, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on caterpillars.
Mediterranean along the coast and Central Valley, alpine in the Sierra Nevada, and desert in the southeast.
Nesting in California
Across California, 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.
Dry summers with little rain from May to October; water and summer-blooming natives matter more than extra seed.
- Bullock's Orioles don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, chokecherry, red-osier dogwood for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native California plants that attract Bullock's orioles
Of the regional native plants we track for California, these 8 provide food or cover Bullock's orioles use:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
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.
Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.
Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.
Red trumpets for Broad-tailed and Rufous hummingbirds.
Feeding Bullock's orioles through the California year
Weaves hanging nests in cottonwoods along western rivers.
- Best foods: Oranges, Grape jelly, Nectar.
- In California'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 California year-round?
No. Bullock's Orioles are summer breeders in California and leave for the winter.
When do Bullock's orioles nest in California?
Nesting in California 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 California?
Smooth sumac, Cardinal flower, Wild bergamot, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Golden currant, Western serviceberry, Scarlet gilia are native plants in California that provide food or cover for Bullock's orioles.
Bullock's Orioles in other regions
Other backyard birds in California
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 — California
- 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.