13 replies to this topic

[danelboones]

We are in Pierre South Dakota. This picture was taken today 5/2/12.

We are thinking it is a Orchard or Baltimore Oriole but the beak seems much larger than in our "Birds of the Dakota's" book.
I just found this site while trying to identify it. First post. Thanks for any help in advance!


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[dklucius]

definately a male blackheaded grosbeak. i got my first of the spring season this week.

[Pat B.]

Agree with Black-headed Grosbeak. Still waiting for mine.

You were right to question the bill. "Gros" is a clue to the fact that a Grosbeak has a big bill. Orioles' bills are much thinner and sharper.

Try feeding the Grosbeak grape jelly in a little dish. When I put it out for the Orioles, the Grosbeaks love it. I buy a big jar of the cheap stuff for the birds. A local birder/birding store owner told me that they prefer purple (grape) jelly to any that are red.

[dklucius]

i did an expermrnt last summer putting out two different jelly feeders. One with Grape and the other with Strawberry. the first thing i've learned is they all prefer Jam over jelly. But also indivudual birds have different tastes as the grosbeaks and tanagers and the house finches ate more grape and the woodpeckers and orioles and magpies ate more of the strawberry jam. I too get the store brands of jam in the large jars and they eat the generic as good as they do the brand names.

[Pat B.]

i did an expermrnt last summer putting out two different jelly feeders. One with Grape and the other with Strawberry. the first thing i've learned is they all prefer Jam over jelly.

Well, jam is better, but I didn't know the birds knew that. I will try it if anyone ever shows up.

[Hopsing129]

What kind of feeder do you use for that?? We have orioles that I'd like to bring in closer (Baltimore and Bullock's).

[dklucius]

this is a homemade platform with a screw up thru the botton to screw a plastic lid down on

[Pat B.]

What kind of feeder do you use for that?? We have orioles that I'd like to bring in closer (Baltimore and Bullock's).

The bird store had an Oriole feeder that had a hole drilled in it to hold a glass bowl - about the size of one of those Pyrex "custard cups" (I'm probably dating myself here). Also on this feeder are spikes on which to impale orange halves. I got a fair number of wasps in the jelly bowl, though.

I also bought an Oriole feeder which is about like a Hummingbird feeder but probably has bigger holes & it has little indentations to hold jelly (see photo). These did not work well - holders don't hold enough & everything spills & the birds poop in it.

[dklucius]

i also have a saucer type oriole feeder but it did not work well either. another made one is a piece of 2x6 with a plastic lid screwed down on it and hung with nylon strings

[Pat B.]

dk - just the other day I telling my husband about all your great homemade feeders. You are so resourceful & creative!

[dklucius]

this is a store bought one from the farm supply. it has a plastic screw on jar but also the small store bought jelly jars fit it too. some orioles like it but the perching type birds don't use it much

[BarnSwallow]

Can someone please come teach my orioles to use feeders? I've tried orange halves, jelly bowls, and nectar feeders, but they just fly right over them

[BigOly]

Black-headed Grosbeaks love sunflower seeds.

[dklucius]

the blackheaded grosbeaks here eat almost anything from seeds and grains and fruit and jelly, nuts and love watermelon and cantalope