Showing posts with label Northern Oriole Icterus galbula. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Northern Oriole Icterus galbula. Show all posts

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Northern Oriole Icterus galbula

Northern Oriole Icterus galbula

Northern Oriole Icterus galbula In the West, this species is known as Bullock's Oriole; until recently, Bullock's was believed to be a different species from the eastern Baltimore Oriole. For many years divided by the treeless Great Plains, the two birds developed different coloration; today, they meet along wooded streams and farmland, where they interbreed.

Identification Male orange-yellow below with black eye stripe, crown, chin stripe, back, and central tail feathers; wings black with prominent white patch. Cheeks and eyebrow orange. Female has yellow hood, throat, and upper breast; wings pale gray with faint white patch; belly gray. Immature male like female, but has black on face.

Voice A loud whistled series of wheew, wheew, wheew notes, interspersed with clucks. Also a chattering call.

Habitat Deciduous forests, woodlands, agricultural areas, city parks, and suburbs; in winter, visits eucalyptus trees.

Range Bullock's breeds from ร. British Columbia and Saskatchewan to Mexico and Texas; Baltimore Oriole in East. Winters primarily in the tropics