The 8 BEST Feeders For Orioles (That Work in 2025)

Seeing orioles at my backyard bird feeders is always exciting.

Not only are these birds beautiful with their striking orange plumage, but seeing them is a sure sign that summer is just around the corner, as most orioles arrive back to their northern breeding range sometime in May. (And some of you are lucky enough to live where you can see orioles year-round.)

best oriole feeders for oranges

But attracting orioles to your bird feeders presents challenges because they have an entirely different diet than most other feeder birds.

You need a specialized oriole feeder to see these stunning birds!

Instead of eating sunflower, peanuts, safflower, or corn, like many other species, orioles have a unique diet and will only visit feeders that offer fruit (such as oranges), jelly, nectar, or mealworms.

BEST Oriole Feeders (8 Total)


#1. Birds Choice Oriole Feeder

View Cost on Amazon

This feeder was designed to offer THREE delicious oriole foods at once! Nectar, jelly, and oranges!

  • First, there is a clear plastic dish that holds the nectar. Orioles access the sugar water by landing on the perches and sticking their beaks through the four holes in the orange lid.
  • Next, there are four cupped sections on the orange lid where jelly or orange slices can be placed.
  • Finally, the metal hook that screws into the plastic dish can be used to skewer oranges (not pictured in the above video).

The look of this feeder reminds me of a dish hummingbird feeder, just with the added benefit of having spots for jelly and oranges. For the record, hummingbirds will also visit oriole feeders like this one for the nectar. 🙂

YouTube video

If you decide to put out nectar for orioles (or hummingbirds), please make sure you are committed to cleaning your nectar feeders consistently. Sugar water spoils rather quickly, and if a bird drinks rotten nectar, then it can cause issues.

Lastly, this oriole feeder is made of durable polycarbonate plastic, has a built-in ant guard for the nectar, and is simple to take apart to clean. The top lid is also the color of orange, which is vital because orioles are naturally attracted to anything orange. You will notice most other feeders on this list incorporate orange too.


#2. Ultimate Oriole Buffet

attracting orioles with feeders

View the Price HERE! – Save 10% by using code BWHQ at checkout!

This oriole feeder has stakes for orange halves and two clear glass jars for jelly/mealworms. I like that there are stakes on the outside as well, so you can put a total of FOUR orange halves out at once.

Bright orange recycled plastic is used for the construction material, which is incredibly durable. I’m always happy when any of my feeders are made from recycled plastic. And remember that the color orange helps attract orioles!

There is a clear acrylic roof that helps keep the food sheltered while still providing visibility. A little rain is not going to dilute the jelly or ruin mealworms.

Lastly, this feeder is easy to clean, which is one of my favorite features of any bird feeder. Usually, the only thing that gets dirty is the glass cups, and they come out easily, which also makes them easy to refill. It’s nice that you don’t have to drag the whole feeder to the sink, just the two small cups!


#3. Double Fruit Oriole Feeder

COMPARE PRICES!

This bright orange oriole feeder feeds both oranges and jelly. You can see that it holds two orange halves on each side on the permanently mounted fruit stakes. 

I like that this feeder is tall and skinny, which means it doesn’t take up much room hanging from my feeding station. It’s made from recycled poly lumber, which is guaranteed never to crack, split, or fade!

Just remember that orioles typically will only eat oranges in the spring and fall. During the summer their diet switches to insects that provide protein for breeding and raising their young. Luckily, the glass cup gives a perfect place to offer mealworms once they switch foods.

Check out this oriole bird feeder in action!

YouTube video

 

In the above video, you can watch a male Baltimore Oriole feasting on grape jelly in my backyard! I think the fact that this feeder is completely orange really helps attract the interest of orioles that are passing by.


#4. Kettle Moraine Fruit/Jelly Oriole Feeder

The BEST Oriole Feeders

View Cost - Amazon

I love the simple look and design of this oriole feeder.

First, the feeder has two aluminum stakes that point up from the landing platform, which are designed to be used with orange halves, so the fruit stays in one place as the orioles feed.

Second, two small jars fit onto the platform. To feed orioles, you would want to fill these jars with either jelly, grapes, or mealworms, depending on what your local birds are eating. I like that you could even split up what you put in each jar (jelly in one, mealworms in the other) to offer a wide variety of choices.

The 14-inch metal roof also provides some protection from the weather for the food below.

Lastly, the large platform (12 inches in diameter) also gives adequate space for many birds to land and eat.


#5. Woodlink 3 in 1 Platform Bird Feeder

tray feeder for orioles

View Today's Price

You are looking at my favorite overall bird feeder. I love its versatility and simplicity and so do the birds. Every day I can mix whatever that I want to offer and see what birds visit! As for feeding orioles, it easily holds their favorite foods.

Orange halves? No problem, toss them on the tray along with some grapes.

Mealworms? Absolutely. Even if you choose living mealworms instead of freeze-dried, they shouldn’t be able to crawl up the smooth wooden sides.

I would not put jelly directly onto the tray because it would make a mess, but you could easily place some in a small glass dish and set it on top.

This tray feeder is wonderful and I use it every single day in my backyard. It can also be hung, mounted to a post, or sit directly on the ground since it includes fold-out legs.


#6. Stokes Snacks And Treats Feeder

best oriole feeders

View Price - Amazon

If you are looking for a simple and inexpensive way to offer fruit, mealworms, and jelly for orioles, this feeder is perfect.

As you can see above, it’s a small, blue plastic dish that is easily hung almost anywhere.

I have used this feeder for a variety of different foods. To specifically attract orioles, I would try putting jelly or mealworms inside, depending on the time of year. 

YouTube video

Or, if you needed to put an orange half in a secure place, this feeder would also get the job done.

I use this small feeder a lot to experiment. It allows me to isolate specific foods to see which birds are enjoying and eating them.


#7. Nail & Hammer

cheap inexpensive orioles feeders

Yep. That’s all you need to feed orioles in your backyard. Well, and half an orange. (For the record, that is NOT me in the above picture!)

Take your nail, hammer, and orange slice and find a spot in your backyard. Then hammer the nail through the orange and into the tree. I would only put about half the nail into the tree; you want it sticking out enough so you can keep hanging fresh oranges.

Please don’t blame me if soon all the trees in your backyard have an orange nailed to them. 🙂


#8. Suet Cage

Suet Cage Feeder

If you’re looking for a way to feed orioles, but don’t want to buy another bird feeder, then you can usually repurpose your suet feeders during the summer months. This strategy tends to work out exceptionally well because many people quit using suet in the summer because it gets so gooey, sticky, and slimy.

So instead of putting away a suet cage or basket for the summer, fill it with orange slices. The orioles should love having a separate place to feed, and you may even be able to spot a woodpecker dining on an orange.

Here are two suet feeders that I own and recommend, but any suet cage will work as long as it can hold orange slices.


FOUR Frequently Asked Questions


How many different oriole species can I see?

The answer to this question depends on where you live in North America.

  • Baltimore Oriole: Summer range is most of the USA and southern Canada east of the Rocky Mountains. They spend winters in Florida and Central America. Most common species observed!
  • Orchard Oriole: The summer range is the USA east of the Rocky Mountains. Spends its winters in Central America.
  • Bullocks Oriole: The most common oriole in the western USA. Their summer range is west of the Rocky Mountains. Spends winters in Central America.

LEARN MORE: The 8 Orioles Found in the United States and Canada! (w/ Range Maps)


When should I put my oriole feeders out?

It depends on where you live in North America and when your specific oriole species will be passing through or arrive back from migration. This is typically going to be in late April or early May. Orioles usually begin their journey back south sometime in September.


How do I make nectar for orioles?

Making homemade nectar is simple. Just mix 1 part sugar with 4 parts water. You can use this same recipe for hummingbird nectar. Just remember to keep your nectar feeders CLEAN!


How can I attract orioles to my backyard?

Great question! To read my complete guide, check out the following article:


Final Thoughts and Conclusion

best bird feeders for orioles

Selecting the best bird feeders for orioles can be challenging because of the unique foods that these birds consume.

Remember that if you want to attract orioles to your bird feeding station, then you are going to need to rely on the following foods:

  • Oranges and grapes
  • Jelly: Grape seems to work the best
  • Nectar
  • Mealworms: Freeze-dried or live.

It’s also important to be incredibly flexible with the above foods once orioles arrive back from their winter migration. Typically, they will prefer eating foods with high sugar content, such as fruit and nectar, in the spring and fall. This is because they need additional energy for migration.

Once orioles settle into their breeding territory for the summer and start the process of reproducing and raising their young, they begin to favor insects due to the additional protein offered.

My last tip is don’t get discouraged!

It took two years of setting out oranges before I started to get orioles to visit my feeders regularly. But trust me, all the effort is worth it once you get to see these beautiful orange birds in your backyard!


What are your favorite bird feeders for orioles?

Please let us know below in the COMMENTS section.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

21 Comments

  1. Nice article, Scott! I love my Balt Orioles – and have enjoyed them for several years now. (I live in upstate NY, near the border of VT). But this year I was stressed when I didn’t see any for weeks and weeks after they had frequented my feeder LOTS. Then I read that they are off feeding ‘protein’ to their young….and just now, they have returned to my feeder. So I find it interesting that they come – they disappear – and they return! Seemed more noticeable this year than previous years. Happy to have them back – hopefully some of their young are joining in!

  2. Just like the Hummingbird feeders you need to have a water trap to keep the ants at bay.
    Otherwise they will get to the orange slices & jelly….Thanks for all the info you provide us and videos on your bird feeders they are a joy to watch

  3. Thanks for the coupon code. Ordered an oriole feeder 🙂 Orioles are in my yard but so far have not seemed interested in the grape jelly I put out. Maybe the big orange feeder will make the difference!

  4. #1 + #2 are the best, we have both. And we just love when (usually the male surprisingly) bring the babies to the jelly feeder and feed them!! They are here (Southern Ontario) for such a short period of time and are so timid, we keep their feeders separate from the seed feeders. Oranges, jelly + nectar going out this weekend, expecting their return in next week!

  5. Thank you for all your hard work investigating and researching the birds , plants and related products! Love the videos too. 50 birds ! That’s exciting! We live in Jackson, Mississippi and I am going to dedicate my time and energy into trying to attract Baltimore Orioles this year. We have Eastern Bluebirds and Ruby Throated Hummers thank goodness, as well as many other bird species. We are backed up to a small wooded area tucked away in the middle of the neighborhood which is nice. Changing subjects…. I just downloaded the Merlin bird ID app and have had the best time identifying all the birds we have by the sound ID. It identifies the bird as it hears the call and shows the picture of each with the bird’s name. Try it if you haven’t!
    Elizabeth

  6. We live in the mountains of Colorado in the middle of all the ski areas…Breckenridge, Steamboat, Vail….we just had a Bullock’s Oriole hanging upside-down from one of our hummingbird feeders drinking the drops of nectar dripping from the bottom. Is it normal to see them at 9000 feet?

  7. We had a few Orioles visit our grape jelly last year. We live in a windy area and feeders do take a beating. Does wind, rain, or cool weather make a difference in feeding activity?

  8. Thanks so much for the information- very well done and spread across all price ranges. Thanks again!

  9. Not at my house, I have two bird feeders, and two suet feeders all hung by each other, I have all sorts of woodpeckers,Orioles, blue Jays, cardinals, sapp suckers, hummingbirds and Robin’s and doves with finches. They all seem to get along.

  10. We have had 2-3 males at our feeder the first female just showed up today! Dish of grape jelly with orange on a nail. Squirrel has had most of orange and has dipped into the jelly too!

  11. I have always used the old orange half on a nail method, which the orioles love. Since I’ve been home during the quarantine however, realize that the squirrels are also enjoying the oranges! I had no idea they liked them. Sigh.

  12. The usual reason they stop eating jelly in early summer is because they are busy sitting on the nest or feeding insects to the babies. Keep putting food out and they will star eating it again and if you are lucky, babies will come to your feeder.

  13. With many of the orange-holding methods, there’s a nail or metal post sticking up into the fruit. Is there any reason to be concerned about the orioles injuring their beaks on these? First time feeder, by accident! He just started visiting my hummingbird nectar today!