Diet
What do Baltimore orioles eat?
Caterpillars in summer; nectar and ripe fruit.
Blackbirds (Icteridae)Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbula
Spring and summer diet
- Tent caterpillars and gypsy moth larvae
Fall and winter diet
- Winters in Central America
Best feeder foods
- Orange halves
- Grape jelly (in small amounts)
- Nectar
Avoid
- Large amounts of jelly for nestlings — offer mealworms instead once young hatch
Put orange halves out the week orioles are due back — they stay where they find food on arrival.
Frequently asked
What do Baltimore orioles eat?
Caterpillars in summer; nectar and ripe fruit.
What is the best food to feed Baltimore orioles?
Orange halves, Grape jelly (in small amounts), Nectar.
What should I not feed Baltimore orioles?
Large amounts of jelly for nestlings — offer mealworms instead once young hatch.
What do Baltimore orioles eat in winter?
Winters in Central America.
Sources
- Baltimore Oriole — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Baltimore Oriole life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Baltimore Oriole — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
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.