Orchard Orioles in New York
When orchard orioles are present in New York, when they nest, which native New York plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–7b yard.
- Status in New York
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–7b
When to expect orchard orioles in New York
Orchard Orioles are summer residents in New York, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on caterpillars, beetles and ants; mulberries.
Humid continental, from cold Adirondack highlands to the maritime-moderated coast of Long Island.
Nesting in New York
Across New York, orchard orioles typically nest from May–June. Nest site: woven basket hung in the fork of a shade tree. Females lay 3–7 eggs, incubate for 12–15 days, and young leave the nest after 11–14 days.
Warm summers with a shorter nesting season upstate than downstate.
- Orchard Orioles don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as winterberry, arrowwood viburnum, flowering dogwood for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native New York plants that attract orchard orioles
Of the regional native plants we track for New York, these 8 provide food or cover orchard orioles use:
Winter fruit.
Blue-black fall fruit and insect cover.
Late-summer nectar.
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.
Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Feeding orchard orioles through the New York year
Arrives late April and leaves by August — one of the shortest stays of any songbird.
- Best foods: Grape jelly, Orange halves, Nectar.
- In New York's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for orchard orioles · Best feeder for orchard orioles
Frequently asked
Are orchard orioles in New York year-round?
No. Orchard Orioles are summer breeders in New York and leave for the winter.
When do orchard orioles nest in New York?
Nesting in New York typically runs May–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–7 eggs, incubated for 12–15 days.
What native plants attract orchard orioles in New York?
Winterberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Cardinal flower, Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac are native plants in New York that provide food or cover for orchard orioles.
Orchard Orioles in other regions
Other backyard birds in New York
Sources
- Orchard Oriole — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Orchard Oriole life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Orchard Oriole — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — New York
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- New York Breeding Bird Atlas III
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.