In Wisconsin Oriole Feeders Feed More Than Orioles

A common misperception is that Oriole Feeders will only feed Orioles. They contain fruit, jelly, and / or nectar of some kind, and I have found that a number of species will come visit our Oriole feeder as the migrate back to Wisconsin in the spring.

I hang our Oriole feeders at the start of the last week of April (often w/o any visitors), but then leave it up through the month of May (typically by the end of May we have no more Oriole visitors). During this time, the feeder is visited by a number of birds.

House Finches come and eat the orange wedges which are available.

Black Capped Chickadees drink from the ant mote.

Ruby Throated Hummingbirds eat the nectar.

Summer Tanagers eat the grape jelly.

Both Baltimore and Orchard Oriole come by for visits.

And I am told Gray Catbirds will visit Oriole feeders, but while we have had Gray Catbirds in the shrubs we've never seen them at a feeder.

Summer Tanager visiting our feeder.


Rose Breasted Grosbeaks visit with Baltimore Orioles.


Hummingbirds usually come for a visit too.