3 Types of Orioles Found in Canada! (2025)

What types of orioles can you find in Canada?

common orioles in the united states

Few birds get me as excited as seeing Baltimore Orioles in my backyard each spring, either sipping grape jelly or feeding on orange halves. It’s no wonder these beautiful blackbirds (Yes, all orioles are part of the Icteridae family and considered blackbirds 🙂 ) draw so much attention and are a favorite amongst many people, both birders, and non-birders alike.

Below are the 3 types of orioles that live in Canada!

Make sure to pay attention to the range maps below to see which orioles live near you! For each species, I have included a few photographs, along with their most common sounds, to help you identify any birds you are lucky enough to observe.

Orioles That Live in Canada (3)


#1. Baltimore Oriole

species of orioles in the united states

Nothing marks the return of spring in Canada quite like the whistling song of the Baltimore Oriole. Male birds, being a stunning combination of orange and black with white wing bars, are unmistakable. Females are beautiful in their own way, featuring duller colors than the males while lacking a black hood and back.

Baltimore Oriole Range Map

baltimore oriole range map

These birds spend most of their time at the tops of deciduous trees, fluttering around, building beautiful woven nests, and looking for food. They are most often found in open woodlands, riverbanks, and on the edges of swamps and forests. Even though they enjoy trees, they normally aren’t seen in deep, dark forests.

Baltimore Orioles LOVE eating ripe fruit and nectar!

These two sugary foods provide lots of energy, while insects give them the nutrition they need.

Baltimore Orioles are the most commonly seen oriole in most of Canada. And luckily, these birds are relatively easy to attract to your bird feeders, as long as you use the foods they enjoy eating.

YouTube video

Baltimore Orioles in MY Backyard!

Try using one of these foods to attract orioles:

  • Ripe fruit, such as bananas, cherries, grapes, or various berries. Orioles are attracted to the color orange, so putting out orange slices works best in my backyard.
  • Grape jelly, placed in a cup, is a treat that orioles find hard to resist. You may also see catbirds and woodpeckers sampling the jelly.
  • Similar to hummingbirds, Baltimore Orioles love drinking nectar from flowers. You can take advantage of this fact by setting out oriole-friendly nectar feeders at your bird feeding station.
  • I have also seen Baltimore Orioles eating suet and sunflower seeds in my backyard.

Baltimore Orioles are often heard before being seen since they live so high up in trees. Listen for males to make a flutelike whistling noise while defending their breeding territory. Females also sing, but it’s shorter and used to communicate with her mate.

Press PLAY above to hear a Baltimore Oriole singing!

Scientific Name: Icterus galbula


#2. Orchard Oriole

orchard oriole

While most orioles species feature bright orange plumage, male Orchard Orioles are a darker orange and appear rust-colored. Females are greenish-yellow, with white wing bars on black wings.

Orchard Orioles are fairly common in parts of Canada during summer.

orchard oriole range map

Orchard Oriole Range Map

But these shy birds are not often seen because they spend most of their time at the tops of trees. Preferred habitat includes the edges of rivers, swamps, lakeshores, open woodlands, farms, and scrublands.  In winter, they migrate south to Mexico through South America.

While many oriole species regularly visit bird feeders, Orchard Orioles are much harder to attract to them. You are probably more likely to see these orioles in your backyard searching for insects in shrubby vegetation or eating mulberries from a tree. But if you’re lucky, you may see them at your feeders eating sunflower seeds or orange slices, drinking sugar water from a nectar feeder, or sipping a bit of grape jelly.

An Orchard Oriole’s song is similar to an American Robin, except it’s more varied. Listen for a series of loud whistles that lasts 3-4 seconds, which is used to attract mates.

Press PLAY above to hear an Orchard Oriole singing!

Scientific Name: Icterus spurius


#3. Bullock’s Oriole

bullocks oriole

Bullock’s Orioles are seen in western Canada. Look for them in open woodlands or parks, where there are large trees spaced out a bit.

Males are bright orange and easily identified by a black line that runs across their eyes and a black throat. Females look different and have a yellowish head, chest, and tail with a grayish body.

bullocks oriole on bird feeder

A unique skill that Bullock’s Orioles display is their ability to hang upside down for extended periods of time. They do this behavior while searching for insects or building their exquisite woven nests.

Bullock’s Oriole Range Mapbullocks oriole range map

You can try to attract these birds to your backyard by offering sugary foods, which help them replenish energy after a long migration from Mexico. Like other oriole species, the best foods to use are orange slices, jelly, and nectar.

There is a lot of individual variation in the songs of Bullock’s Orioles. But in general, listen for clear, flutelike whistles that are around 3 seconds long, and often interspersed with rattles.

Press PLAY above to hear a Bullock’s Oriole singing!

Scientific Name: Icterus bullockii


Which of these orioles have you seen before in Canada?

Leave a comment below! 


To learn more about birds that live near you, check out these other guides!

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2 Comments

  1. I`m @ k0h2w0.in Ontario..I build feeders and sell them.Have 2 where we can see from our deck…THEY love Smuckers concord grape jelly..I`ve gone through approx.90 oz this summer..today is July 9/23 and havent seen one on 2 days..Maybe they have gone already..They were late coming this spring..usually in mid April but 2nd week of June this year..

  2. I’ve seen the Baltimore Oriole at a campsite 5 kilometres south of Pigeon Lake, Alberta. We loved sitting and watching as he went from branch to branch eating from some seed pods that had just opened. We also had a hummingbird feeder nearby he tried but I don’t think the openings were big enough. Going shopping for a proper feeder for them. Beautiful bird!