Orioles and Hummingbirds: How to Keep Them Fed and Happy 

Written by: Ian Cole

Despite our recent run of foggy, cool weather, it is indeed Spring, and that means orioles and hummingbirds are back for their annual Cape vacation! These little birds come here all the way from Central and South America to enjoy our gardens and backyards for their breeding season. A flight from Boston to Rio is a journey of around 5,000 miles, which would take us 15 hours including a layover in Miami. Hummingbirds, though, are at most 3.5 inches long and weigh less than half an ounce – so that’s an arduous journey for them!  

Credit: allaboutbirds.org 

Male Ruby-Throated Hummingbird 

Credit: allaboutbirds.org

Female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird 

Many of our customers are now on a mission to find the best plants and feeders to help these birds refuel and keep them coming back to their gardens throughout the next several months. You will find that orioles are attracted to many of the same plants as hummingbirds! 

One perennial option is the Bleeding Heart, specifically the Asian bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis). Its Latin name is actually Greek, and can be translated as “dazzling smoke worth seeing”, alluding to the plant’s unique blossoms. While there are several native varieties of bleeding heart, the Asian bleeding heart produces numerous pink and white flowers that are perfect for attracting both hummingbirds and orioles, as well as many other pollinators. Keep in mind that these plants do best in shade or partial shade. Several other ‘bird buffet’ perennials that work well on the Cape are:  

-Cardinal flower  

-Agastache  

-Garden phlox 

-Bee balm 

-Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ 

-Lobelia 

-Trumpet vine 

-Honeysuckle 

-Native columbine 

-Liatris 

A very popular annual plant this time of year is Cuphea ignea, or Cigar flower. We offer a particular variety of Cuphea from Proven Winners called “Vermillonaire”, a.k.a. the Large Firecracker Plant. Vermillionaire’s tubular flowers are a vibrant red-orange that is a favorite of hummingbirds. This plant is very tolerant of both heat and drought, does well in containers, and can be a great compliment to other red/orange/yellow flowers as long as they are in full sun. Other brilliant annuals that are a great fit here include Blue/Black salvia, Fuschia, and Lantana. 

Orioles will often feed on nectar from the same feeders as hummingbirds, but they are also big fans of oranges and grape jelly. Many oriole feeders have places to put oranges and grape jelly either built in or as attachments. We stock several different feeders for both birds, as well as ready-to-use nectar and jelly too. Please be mindful about refreshing nectar feeders daily.  

Credit: allaboutbirds.org 

Baltimore Oriole 

Credit: allaboutbirds.org 

Orchard Oriole 

In addition to the Baltimore Oriole, Cape Codders occasionally see Orchard Orioles, which are smaller and have darker orange plumage with more black areas across their body. Orioles will often make their woven, tennis ball size nests in close proximity to their food sources, so keep an eye out in the trees around your yard! Suction cup feeders offer a great opportunity to see these fantastic birds up close and personal, as well as our new Smart Hummingbird Feeder by FeatherSnap. 

Memorial Day Weekend is the perfect time to get these plants in the ground, or to pot up a vibrant hanging basket. Don’t forget to join us for our Hummingbird Planter Workshop on May 30 at 2pm! See details and register: here.