Named for the yellow-orange hood on the male, the Hooded Oriole is at home in the Southern United States. It inhabits both rural and suburban areas, and is at home at our Arizona bed & breakfast. It originally nested in the trees found in the desert oases.

Male Hooded Oriole

One of the most endearing things about the hooded Oriole is the way in which they build their nests. The nests are weaved from palm leaf fibers and look a lot like baskets. They hang suspended from palm leaves and the female pokes holes in the leaf from below and pushes the fibers through, effectively sewing the nest to the leaf. Their nests resemble a tear drop, usually built by the female. Hooded Orioles typically lay three to five eggs, which hatch in about 13 days. Both male and female Orioles are dedicated parents, feeding and caring for the chicks.
Hooded Orioles’ diet consists of insects and nectar taken from plants such as agave, aloes, hibiscus, lilies, and other tubular flowers, by piercing the base of the flower’s stem. They will also visit the occasional hummingbird feeder, like the ones around our Arizona bed and breakfast. The Hooded Oriole nests here and in Saguaro National Park East in the Spring and Summer, but winter down in Mexico and Central America.

The Hooded Oriole is back in our gardens and that’s a sign that spring is here!

Female Hooded Oriole with Nest Supplies

Butterfly and bird watching abound at Alta Vista Bed and Breakfast

We can’t wait to show you everything waiting for you on your getaway to Tucson, Arizona. Birding, hiking, museums, galleries, the list goes on and on. Alta Vista is proud to be one of the highest rated inns in the Tucson area, and close to Saguaro National Park East.