Orioles Are Drawn To Dark Fruit

 Baltimore Orioles are fans of dark colored fruits.

 Picture from Carolina Bird Club

Most fruit eating birds, like robins, tend to graze on any fruit they can find.  The Baltimore Orioles however, prefers only ripe, dark-colored fruit like mulberries, red cherries and purple grapes.  They'll ignore the lighter colored fruits like green grapes and yellow cherries, even if they are ripe.

Lord Baltimore's Bird

 The Baltimore Oriole's name has a rich historical back story.

 Picture from Nature.net

Named because their colors are similar to those on the coat of arms of famous politician Lord Baltimore, the Baltimore oriole is one of the most recognizable birds in the United States.  The Baltimore oriole shares its range with the similar-looking Bullock’s oriole and frequently hybridizes with it. At one time these two birds were thought to be a single species known as the northern oriole.

Baltimore Orioles Protect Young

The Baltimore oriole is Maryland's state bird, and also the name of its professional baseball team. Female Baltimore orioles create unique, hanging nests for their eggs. When they hatch, both parents feed and protect their young for up to two weeks.

Pictured: A father oriole is taking care of its young.