Can Hummingbirds use Oriole feeders

Whilst an hummingbird can use a oriole feeder, there's no health issues to be concerned about other than oriole feeders designed for a larger bird, so can be difficult to use.

Hummingbirds can use an oriole feeder because at times the nectar-filled feeder is vital for their survival. Hummers are seen less at an oriole feeders because its frequently occupied, of which hummers like to avoid others. Nectar used is identical to what hummers sip on, only the perches are spaced awkwardly apart.

To see an hummingbird at an nectar-filled oriole feeder will be a rarer occurrence than witnessing an oriole who always comes to a hummingbird feeder.

On occasions though a hummingbird can be tempted to frequent a quiet, unoccupied oriole feeder at any time of the day if it means the sugary water can be accessed via the larger port well holes.

What an oriole feeder looks like is indeed a disc shape hummingbird feeder in the color orange. Red hummingbird feeders are made for super small hummers, whilst an oriole feeder is far bigger, for what is a bigger bird than a hummer.

With the size difference its sure to be difficult at times for hummers to manage in their attempt to sip nectar - as there is a wider space between port wells and perches.

What is an oriole feeder is a nectar-filled bird feeder just the same an a hummingbird feeder... so why wouldn't a hummingbird come to it.

It certainly won't be the color alone because despite popular believe, hummingbirds are attracted to other bright colors, like that of the orange oriole feeder.

I can say then a simple, cheap nectar-filled oriole feeders are an exciting prospect for hummers, as its the homemade nectar that will be on their radar at all times.

Hummers use unobstructed wells

No surprise really to find hummingbirds fully capable of using a feeder intended for a larger oriole, yet hummers will use an oriole feeder if the time and place allows it.

Why you have a nectar-filled oriole feeder in your yard would be because you probably have, well... orioles visiting your yard on a regular basis.

With that to contend with then no, hummingbirds won't use a oriole feeder if its busy with orioles, other birds and wildlife. Hummers prefer to feed on their own of which, will avoid an occupied oriole feeder.

Hummingbirds are capable of coming to a oriole feeder for one reason alone, nectar.

Nectar-filled oriole feeders use the same nectar mix used for hummingbirds in their own feeder, thus there's no reason why a hummer won't want to sip on it.

I am of course referring to oriole feeders intended for nectar mind you, not the kind of jelly or orange oriole fruit feeders you can buy.

What you must know is the port feeding wells on oriole feeders are far more accessible than hummingbird feeder wells. With that the long, thin bill of a hummer and the tongue adding extra length will be fully compatible at an oriole feeder.

Orioles have less reach with their wider, shorter bills thus a hummingbird will manage far easier than if an oriole used a hummingbird feeder, and in many respects they will.

Some restrictions apply

Whilst a hummingbird can use a nectar-filled type feeder, and vice-versa, restrictions certainly do apply to an hummingbird.

Think of an oriole as a far larger bird than what is one of the smallest birds in the world, which can be any hummingbird. Oriole feeders will then be made for a larger bird thus a smaller hummer can be tackling an wider area.

With that in mind, distance between the perch where an hummingbird would normally land to feed at the port wells - are indeed further away from the wells to what an hummer is used to.

In fact, its unlikely an hummingbird can simply lean over to poke their bills in the port wells to sip nectar, like they normally do at their own hummingbird feeder.

Distance on an oriole feeder is far wider thus the use of an oriole feeder may restrict its use to hovering hummingbirds only.

With this key difference between a oriole feeder vs hummingbird feeder, that isn't to say hummers can find a way to perch on certain nectar-filled oriole feeders you can buy.

Once more, only a quiet, isolated oriole feeder can attract an hummingbird to it, therefore a likely busy all day with oriole feeder won't be used at all.

Hummingbirds can use any color hummingbird feeder just as an oriole can, so do expect an hummingbird to use an oriole feeder in the color orange if an opportunity presents itself.

Isolate Oriole feeder only

Hummingbirds can use an oriole feeder but I'll say it again, hummers won't be seen to use an oriole feeder if its both busy with orioles or situated in a frequented area.

Isolate the oriole feeder on what would typically be on a bird feeder pole verses a less preferred tree branch - then you may see hummingbirds use the oriole feeder if its isn't just restricted to orioles.

Isolation of an oriole feeder doesn't guarantee use by hummingbirds, but its certainly the kind of peaceful environment you want to setup for orioles... and of course their nectar-sipping hummingbird friends.

You can put a oriole feeder next to a hummingbird feeder whilst baring in mind an oriole is likely to occupy both bird feeders at the same time, thus deterring hummers all together.

Orioles have no issues sharing a space with hummingbirds, but hummers do themselves because they are a highly timid, shy birds around others.

What I ask you to do then is hang an oriole feeder in an isolated spot or indeed hang it where other birds converge at feeders in your yard in an effort to stop hummingbirds attempting to sip on orioles own nectar.

What you can do to assist hummingbirds is then isolate their own hummingbird feeder, to prevent orioles scaring off hummingbirds.

Hummingbirds sip Oriole mixture

Hummingbirds can use and will arrive at oriole feeders for one simple reason, as you use hummingbird nectar for orioles and vice-versa.

So you see there's no way an hummingbird or oriole can distinguish between an oriole or hummingbird feeder that shares a space in a yard. To an hummingbird the nectar is for them, whilst a oriole is likely to invade the hummers space than the other way round.

Hummingbirds will sip what is homemade oriole nectar via the port wells made available on any nectar-filled feeder.

And unlike hummingbirds, the hummer can hover if it deems the perch placements to be too far apart.

How you make oriole and hummingbird nectar is to use one part sugar, to four parts water. To put that in to context: use one mug of sugar to four mugs of water is all it takes to make this sweet, yet energy boosting drink.

As both migrating species require more of an energy boost at certain times of the year, plus every day to carry on with their foraging - the nectar-filled feeders will always be a target of both species.

And there you have it, of course an hummingbird will use an oriole feeder just as an oriole will happily come to a hummingbird feeder for sugary water.

To sum it up

Its not a matter of can a hummingbird feeder use an oriole feeder, but more so will a hummer use an a feeder intended for an oriole.

Well, seeing as the oriole feeder is filled up with homemade nectar which is exactly the same mixture what an hummer sips on at their own feeder - then of course hummingbirds can use an oriole feeder, with timing being everything.

Hummingbirds can use an oriole feeder but unfortunately an oriole feeder being present usually means orioles continue to be on or near the feeder.

Understand hummingbirds are rarely seen to feed, drink or bathe around other common backyard birds, including orioles; thus an oriole feeder will be used far less than what would be an oriole regularly seen using an hummingbird feeder.

Why an hummingbird can use an oriole feeder of all reasons is because the port wells where orioles sip nectar - is actually more compatible with a hummingbirds bills than an orioles larger beak.

Oriole beaks are shorter and wider whereas an hummingbirds long, super thin bill is 100% compatible at an oriole feeder.

Downside being is that orioles are larger birds when compared to an hummingbird, thus the perch placements are at a wider distance, and therefore could force hummers to hover rather than perching to sip nectar at the wells.

Comparably speaking, an oriole perched on a hummingbird feeder can appear the oriole is squashed as this larger bird attempts to find an angle to sip at the port wells situated far too close to the perch.

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