Oriole

I have been watching and feeding birds for decades. I enjoy what shows up and try to ID ones I am not familiar with.
Several days ago I saw a new bird and figured out its probably a female oriole, Baltimore I would guess. The interesting thing is she is eating out of the hummingbird feeder. I know they are fruit eaters so it isn't a huge surprise but for me its been fun.
She is beautiful and has been slurping the sugar water like crazy.
I don't have a picture but will look for an opportunity. My pics are terrible. Maybe someone has one to share.
Thanks,
Helen

My orioles are constantly at my sugar water feeders and they've even convinced me a couple years ago to pull the flowers from the feeder port so the hole would be larger for them. The hummers don' mind either.

Hope you're able to get your photos.

Congrats on your new bird Helen...and getting to see them on the feeder. They are such a beautiful bird and I love to hear them!

Duc...your Orioles are too darn cute!

Here is a female Baltimore Oriole that was taken during spring migration on May 18th of this year.

GREAT PICTURES!

I had a pair nest in the tree behind our house this summer and I got lots of pictures from a distance but I found them very skiddish and I never got a pic as nice as the two posted by duc and Rose. For what it's worth, my female seemed a shade more greenish-yellow than Rose's.

Thanks for sharing.
The bird at my feeder doesn't have nearly as dark a head. Maybe she is a juvenile. Actually she is more like the one in ducbucln's picture but with more of the rich orange color orange of dellrose's picture.
Both are great. Thanks again.

I had an oriole once drinking out of the HB feeder. Only time I've had one in the garden at all.

I gave my Mom a feeder with spots for jelly and would you believe the chickadees are eating the jelly too!

:(
I bought an oriole feeder early this season & kept it stocked with orange halves, sugar water & grape jelly. (This is the one I have: http://www.shopwbu.com/products/productdetail/WBU+Oriole+Feeder+12+oz/part_number=3959/567.0.1.1.25206.25752.0.0.0?pp=12& )
We saw a male Baltimore 3 or 4 times, but not at the feeder. Also saw a female once heading to our neighbor's mulberry tree, but still not to our feeder.
Maybe because the bees & wasps were always all over the feeder, and floating dead in the nectar, but how do I keep them away?? Perhaps the middle of my flower garden wasn't a good place to hang it? I'd really love to try again next year, and would appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks!

I've tried several different oriole feeders for a few years now and my orioles have refused to even go near them. Same with the jelly and orange halves, both on the feeders and separately and they still haven't gone near them.

The only thing I can think is that these birds have fed off of everyones' hummer feeders for so long that they're just accustomed to the red hummer feeders.

cheryl_103 and ducbucin: I bought a hummingbird feeder from Collections.com for $14.99. It is round,ceramic, about 1in thick, green and has 1-2in butterflies sitting on it. I read the ratings and one customer rated it low, as it has large holes and she said bugs could get in and it was hard to hang without spilling. Well, my orioles love it. The holes are slightly smaller than a dime, and seem to be just right for the orioles. The hummers use it also, but not as much. Have not found any bugs in it. I do feel that it is too deep for the hummingbirds, they don't appear to care for it as much as the orioles. I did rehang it on a large flat wreath ring and added longer chain so the orioles had more room. It did spill easily before but is better now after I rehung it.

I also put out oranges and jelly - not one oriole went near either one. Go figure. I thought of making orange juice, but I was too lazy to look it up to see if it was good for them. Ate the oranges myself and enjoyed them. My motto: You snooze, you loose.

I haven't seen the orioles in days - I guess they migrate also. Males sure were pretty with their deep yellow/gold and black. I think the dominant hummingbird scared the big ole orioles away. haha