Bullock's Orioles in Utah
When Bullock's orioles are present in Utah, when they nest, which native Utah plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–9a yard.
- Status in Utah
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–9a
When to expect Bullock's orioles in Utah
Bullock's Orioles are summer residents in Utah, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on caterpillars.
Semi-arid to arid, with the Wasatch Range rising above the Great Basin and red-rock canyon country in the south.
Nesting in Utah
Across Utah, 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.
- Bullock's Orioles don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, virginia creeper, chokecherry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Utah plants that attract Bullock's orioles
Of the regional native plants we track for Utah, these 8 provide food or cover Bullock's orioles use:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Blue fruit on red stems in early fall.
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.
Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.
Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.
Feeding Bullock's orioles through the Utah year
Weaves hanging nests in cottonwoods along western rivers.
- Best foods: Oranges, Grape jelly, Nectar.
- In Utah'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 Utah year-round?
No. Bullock's Orioles are summer breeders in Utah and leave for the winter.
When do Bullock's orioles nest in Utah?
Nesting in Utah 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 Utah?
Smooth sumac, Virginia creeper, Cardinal flower, Wild bergamot, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Rocky Mountain juniper, Golden currant are native plants in Utah that provide food or cover for Bullock's orioles.
Bullock's Orioles in other regions
Other backyard birds in Utah
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 — Utah
- 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.