Icterus spurius
1st-spring male
The Orchard Oriole is a colorful, slim-bodied songbird with a slender downcurved bill. The sexes are dissimilar. Adult males have a black hood, chest, back, and tail, and a reddish-chestnut rump, underparts, and “shoulders.” The black wings have a white wingbar and white edges to the flight feathers. All females are yellow overall but with a dull olive-yellow back and tail; the wings are subtly darker than the body, with two white wingbars and white edges to the flight feathers. Immature males are similar to a female but have a black face and throat.
The Orchard Oriole is present as a breeding species in eastern North America, mainly from May to August. It spends the rest of the year in Central America. As orioles go, it is a fairly bold species and is usually easy to observe.
female
male
FACT FILE
LENGTH 7.25 in (18.5 cm)
FOOD Invertebrates, seeds, and berries
HABITAT Open woodland and wooded parks
STATUS Widespread and locally common summer visitor
VOICE Song is a jaunty series of fluty whistles; call is a harsh chatter
