Wyoming · Summer breeder

Bullock's Orioles in Wyoming

When Bullock's orioles are present in Wyoming, when they nest, which native Wyoming plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–5b yard.

Blackbirds (Icteridae)Bullock's OrioleIcterus bullockii
Status in Wyoming
Summer breeder
Nesting window
June–July
Broods
1 per season
Hardiness zones
USDA 3a–5b

When to expect Bullock's orioles in Wyoming

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

Semi-arid high plains and basins with major mountain ranges; most towns lie above 5,000 ft.

Nesting in Wyoming

Across Wyoming, 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.

Short, warm summers with cool nights.

  • 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 Wyoming plants that attract Bullock's orioles

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

Smooth sumac
Rhus glabra · Shrub

Red fruit heads hang on through winter.

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.

Common hackberry
Celtis occidentalis · Tree

Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.

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.

Feeding Bullock's orioles through the Wyoming year

Weaves hanging nests in cottonwoods along western rivers.

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

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

When do Bullock's orioles nest in Wyoming?

Nesting in Wyoming 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 Wyoming?

Smooth sumac, Wild bergamot, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Common hackberry, Rocky Mountain juniper, Golden currant, Western serviceberry are native plants in Wyoming that provide food or cover for Bullock's orioles.

Bullock's Orioles in other regions

Other backyard birds in Wyoming

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 — Wyoming
  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.