Orchard Oriole in the Backyard

Posted Jess Yarnell6 Comments

I walked to the window the other evening and did a double-take.  A black bird was in my Coral Porterweed, eating the nectar from the flowers.  That’s not a normal behavior for any of my backyard regulars.  So I looked a little closer and saw that my nectaring black bird was a male Orchard Oriole!  He stopped over in my yard on his migration path to his northern home.  Add one to my backyard bird list!

Orchard Oriole in the Backyard
Orchard Oriole in the Backyard

The oriole stayed for a little more than 24 hours.  He explored every hummingbird plant in my yard.  His favorite plant seemed to be the honeysuckle vines growing on my bird blind.  He nibbled on the flowers to extract their nectar.

Orchard Oriole on Honeysuckle
Orchard Oriole on Honeysuckle

Silly bird, he waited until after the sun set to get close enough for a good photo, taken through my kitchen window.  But a noisy grainy photo is better than none! He stuck around for longer than I expected the next day, joining the cardinals and the buntings in the birdbath for a happy splash.  I never saw him on the seed feeders.

Orchard Oriole
Orchard Oriole

The peak of spring migration is getting close, so keep your eyes open in your own backyard.  You never know what you might see!

 

6 thoughts on “Orchard Oriole in the Backyard”

  1. What a great find! And how much better that he stopped by while you were there! Ironically, I had a male painted bunting stop in today at our feeders. I just happened to look up and there he was. 10 minutes later he was gone and we never saw him come back. Such are the joys at migration.

  2. Lovely photos. I bought the coral honeysuckle last year and it is giving me blooms right now. I can see them as I wash dishes and am waiting to see hummers and other nectar lovers visiting.

    Have a great week ~ FlowerLady

    1. I’ve been surprised how fast my honeysuckle grew, and word seems to be spreading quickly in the birdie world about it. I see the occasional hummingbird on it, the buntings love it, the cardinals are always in and out of it…I hope yours is just as well-appreciated :)

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