Icterus galbula
female
The Baltimore Oriole is a colorful, slim-bodied songbird. The sexes are dissimilar. Adult males have a black hood and back, and orange underparts and “shoulders.” The black wings show a white wingbar and white edges to the flight feathers. The rump is orange, and the tail is orange with a dark base and central feathers. Adult females recall an adult male but are less colorful overall, and black elements of the plumage on the hood and back are replaced by variably dark olive-brown. The “shoulder” patch is replaced by a second white wingbar, and the rump and tail are buffish orange. Immatures are similar to an adult female; immature males are a richer orange than immature females (which are yellower) and the upper white wingbar is more pronounced.
The Baltimore Oriole is present as a breeding species in the eastern half of North America mainly from May to August. It spends the rest of the year mainly in Central or South America, with very small numbers wintering in southeast U.S.A. The species is usually easy to observe.
female
male
FACT FILE
LENGTH 8.75 in (22 cm)
FOOD Invertebrates, seeds, and berries
HABITAT Open woodlands and wooded parks
STATUS Widespread and common summer visitor; local and scarce in winter
VOICE Song is a series of tuneful, whistled chewdi phrases. Call is a rattle
