Bullock's Orioles in Kansas
When Bullock's orioles are present in Kansas, when they nest, which native Kansas plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–7a yard.
- Status in Kansas
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5b–7a
When to expect Bullock's orioles in Kansas
Bullock's Orioles are summer residents in Kansas, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on caterpillars.
Continental — humid tallgrass Flint Hills in the east to semi-arid shortgrass prairie in the west.
Nesting in Kansas
Across Kansas, 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 summers above 95°F; western Kansas is dry, so water draws birds from far away.
- Bullock's 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 Kansas plants that attract Bullock's orioles
Of the regional native plants we track for Kansas, these 8 provide food or cover Bullock's 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.
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.
Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Blue fruit on red stems in early fall.
Feeding Bullock's orioles through the Kansas year
Weaves hanging nests in cottonwoods along western rivers.
- Best foods: Oranges, Grape jelly, Nectar.
- In Kansas'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 Kansas year-round?
No. Bullock's Orioles are summer breeders in Kansas and leave for the winter.
When do Bullock's orioles nest in Kansas?
Nesting in Kansas 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 Kansas?
Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Smooth sumac, Black cherry, American elderberry, Spicebush, Virginia creeper are native plants in Kansas that provide food or cover for Bullock's orioles.
Bullock's Orioles in other regions
Other backyard birds in Kansas
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 — Kansas
- 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.