I put up my first hummingbird feeder 2 days ago and it's over-run with orioles!
I thought hummingbirds were pretty territorial when it comes to their food source, but they seem to give way to the Orioles. The feeder was empty in one day.
So my question is, what's the best feeder for hummingbirds that the Orioles can get their hungry beaks into?
(Don't get me wrong I love my Orioles, I have a jelly feeder for them)

I believe that is the same feeder that I have. If so, it's my favorite.

The slit holes are tiny, are the orioles actually drinking from it or just tipping it?

Hamwild said:I believe that is the same feeder that I have. If so, it's my favorite.
The slit holes are tiny, are the orioles actually drinking from it or just tipping it?

OMGosh the Orioles sit there and belly up to the bar like it's happy hour!
I think the holes are yet too large. I'm going to shop for something with some kind screen over the opening.

I don't believe I've seen one like that, but I'd be interesting in seeing it if you find one!

I nad to put a baffle on the shepherd's hook that mine hangs on because I found a squirrel hanging from the feeder one day trying to drink from it. Needless to say, he ended up just emptying the feeder.

Your feeder is just like mine I have used for many years.Try moving the feeder to different locations. Under a porch some place close hummers protected from larger birds.

Generally any birds bigger than hummers are predators. My hummers will not come around when stellar blue jays are nesting near by.

I don't know if you have the store "Dollar Tree" in your area. They have a feeder that doesn't have a perch. The feeder I'm referring to is all plastic and the color will fade but it cost $1 and the other birds can't drink from it.

The orioles can't hover but the hummingbirds can. Hummingbirds hover when they feed from your plants.

I was having a similar problem with house finches, I even see the house finches eating some of the nectar flowers.

I have that same feeder, and have no problems with it. I also have an oriole nectar feeder for the orioles. That one gets used by everyone, including the house finches.

honeyx4 said:I don't know if you have the store "Dollar Tree" in your area. They have a feeder that doesn't have a perch. The feeder I'm referring to is all plastic and the color will fade but it cost $1 and the other birds can't drink from it.

The orioles can't hover but the hummingbirds can. Hummingbirds hover when they feed from your plants.

I was having a similar problem with house finches, I even see the house finches eating some of the nectar flowers.

Yes, yes, yes! That was the problem. The perch was spaced far enough from the feeding well that the Orioles could sit comfortably and gorge themselves.
I've returned the feeder and replaced it with another one that doesn't have that problem.
Next time I'm out and near a Dollar Tree I'll pop in for a look.
Thank you

bumplbea said:

Your feeder is just like mine I have used for many years.Try moving the feeder to different locations. Under a porch some place close hummers protected from larger birds.

Generally any birds bigger than hummers are predators. My hummers will not come around when stellar blue jays are nesting near by.

I've noticed that the hummers visit the feeder less now that the Orioles staked out their claim. Even though they can't drink from the new feeder they run the hummingbirds off when they come near it.

Do you think moving it to a new location will help?

ctcarol said:I have that same feeder, and have no problems with it. I also have an oriole nectar feeder for the orioles. That one gets used by everyone, including the house finches.

I have a jelly feeder for the Orioles.
I just want them all to be nice to each other lol

I would move it myself.

Ok I moved it, it's not as easy to see from the window, but for now it will work and I'll be able to see it it helps.
Thanks to all for the advice

I barely get hummers. I wouldn't mind some extra traffic. I have more feeders... Just no need for them yet. I hang four feeders and get a single female during nesting season. Last week was the high for the year... The females (2 of which I think may be the nestlings from the female), a solo female, and out front we had a male. Haven't seen the male since. I'm willing to make more sugar solution if we get more traffic... Of any kind!

My friend swears by the kind you adhere to a glass window.

I'm too forgetful to have a feeder. I rely on plants to attract the hummers. They love the bugs on my fir and pine trees.

UrbanWild said:I barely get hummers. I wouldn't mind some extra traffic. I have more feeders... Just no need for them yet. I hang four feeders and get a single female during nesting season. Last week was the high for the year... The females (2 of which I think may be the nestlings from the female), a solo female, and out front we had a male. Haven't seen the male since. I'm willing to make more sugar solution if we get more traffic... Of any kind!

Oddly enough I don't many hummers at my feeder either. I've gone through so many gyrations to keep the Orioles away so the hummers can enjoy it and now I have never seen more than one at the feeder at a time.
I have a lot of flowering plants that they love, I assume that's why.
Perhaps there will be more in the winter months.
That one hummingbird will buzz me when I walk past to get the studio.

With luck, the Orioles will all be in Mexico until August. I had to pull my oriole feeder because the bees were drowning in it , and only a few Female/young Orioles were left. Haven't seen any sign of the Orioles since I took it down.

Ctcarol
I've noticed the lack of orioles, I didn't realize they migrated to Mexico.
But seriously why bother Mexico is only about 35 miles south of me 😉

That's true! I had one young female that stayed here all winter a couple of years ago, but normally they arrive in March, and the males are gone by mid August with the females a couple of weeks later.

I don't even understand why hummers leave the tropics. What are they finding here that tropical environs don't provide?

I've had major problems with bees on the hummer feeders this year. There's always a few but this year there have been times I can't see the feeders for all the bees on them. Don't know why unless it has something to do with hurricane Michael last year.