Bullock's Orioles in Montana
When Bullock's orioles are present in Montana, when they nest, which native Montana plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–6a yard.
- Status in Montana
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–6a
When to expect Bullock's orioles in Montana
Bullock's Orioles are summer residents in Montana, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on caterpillars.
Continental — Rocky Mountain forest in the west, semi-arid Great Plains in the east.
Nesting in Montana
Across Montana, Bullock's orioles typically nest from June–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.
Warm, dry summers and a short growing season.
- 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 Montana plants that attract Bullock's orioles
Of the regional native plants we track for Montana, 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 Montana year
Weaves hanging nests in cottonwoods along western rivers.
- Best foods: Oranges, Grape jelly, Nectar.
- In Montana'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 Montana year-round?
No. Bullock's Orioles are summer breeders in Montana and leave for the winter.
When do Bullock's orioles nest in Montana?
Nesting in Montana typically runs June–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 11–14 days.
What native plants attract Bullock's orioles in Montana?
Smooth sumac, Wild bergamot, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Highbush cranberry, Common hackberry, Rocky Mountain juniper, Golden currant are native plants in Montana that provide food or cover for Bullock's orioles.
Bullock's Orioles in other regions
Other backyard birds in Montana
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 — Montana
- 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.