Nevada · Summer breeder

Bullock's Orioles in Nevada

When Bullock's orioles are present in Nevada, when they nest, which native Nevada plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–10a yard.

Blackbirds (Icteridae)Bullock's OrioleIcterus bullockii
Status in Nevada
Summer breeder
Nesting window
May–July
Broods
1 per season
Hardiness zones
USDA 4a–10a

When to expect Bullock's orioles in Nevada

Bullock's Orioles are summer residents in Nevada, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on caterpillars.

Great Basin cold desert in the north and Mojave hot desert around Las Vegas.

Nesting in Nevada

Across Nevada, 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.

Very hot, dry summers; water is the top attractant.

  • Bullock's Orioles don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as chokecherry, red-osier dogwood, rocky mountain juniper for nest sites.
  • Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Nevada plants that attract Bullock's orioles

Of the regional native plants we track for Nevada, these 8 provide food or cover Bullock's orioles use:

Cardinal flower
Lobelia cardinalis · Perennial

Scarlet late-summer spikes; a hummingbird magnet in moist soil.

Wild bergamot
Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.

Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Red-osier dogwood
Cornus sericea · Shrub

White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.

Rocky Mountain juniper
Juniperus scopulorum · Tree

Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.

Golden currant
Ribes aureum · Shrub

Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.

Western serviceberry
Amelanchier alnifolia · Shrub

Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.

Rocky Mountain bee plant
Cleome serrulata · Perennial

Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.

Feeding Bullock's orioles through the Nevada year

Weaves hanging nests in cottonwoods along western rivers.

  • Best foods: Oranges, Grape jelly, Nectar.
  • In Nevada'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 Nevada year-round?

No. Bullock's Orioles are summer breeders in Nevada and leave for the winter.

When do Bullock's orioles nest in Nevada?

Nesting in Nevada 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 Nevada?

Cardinal flower, Wild bergamot, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Rocky Mountain juniper, Golden currant, Western serviceberry, Rocky Mountain bee plant are native plants in Nevada that provide food or cover for Bullock's orioles.

Bullock's Orioles in other regions

Other backyard birds in Nevada

Sources

  1. Bullock's Oriole — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Bullock's Oriole life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Bullock's Oriole — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. eBird region overview and bar charts — Nevada
  5. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
  6. 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.