Bullock's Orioles in Idaho
When Bullock's orioles are present in Idaho, when they nest, which native Idaho plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–7b yard.
- Status in Idaho
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–7b
When to expect Bullock's orioles in Idaho
Bullock's Orioles are summer residents in Idaho, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on caterpillars.
Semi-arid sagebrush plains along the Snake River and forested mountains to the north and center.
Nesting in Idaho
Across Idaho, Bullock's orioles typically nest from May–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.
Hot, dry summers in the Snake River Plain and cool mountain summers.
- 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 Idaho plants that attract Bullock's orioles
Of the regional native plants we track for Idaho, these 8 provide food or cover Bullock's orioles use:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
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.
Red fruit persists until late winter when other food is gone.
Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.
Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.
Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.
Feeding Bullock's orioles through the Idaho year
Weaves hanging nests in cottonwoods along western rivers.
- Best foods: Oranges, Grape jelly, Nectar.
- In Idaho'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 Idaho year-round?
No. Bullock's Orioles are summer breeders in Idaho and leave for the winter.
When do Bullock's orioles nest in Idaho?
Nesting in Idaho typically runs May–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 11–14 days.
What native plants attract Bullock's orioles in Idaho?
Smooth sumac, Wild bergamot, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Highbush cranberry, Common hackberry, Rocky Mountain juniper, Golden currant are native plants in Idaho that provide food or cover for Bullock's orioles.
Bullock's Orioles in other regions
Other backyard birds in Idaho
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 — Idaho
- 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.