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Baltimore Oriole - (Icterus galbula)
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Baltimore Oriole Photo Gallery
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| We are thrilled to be
seeing more frequent and closer views of the
male Baltimore oriole this year. He's come down
from the higher tree branches to drink nectar
from the old cherry tree's new blossoms this
spring. The nearby oriole feeder (with sugar
water, orange half and grape jelly) has been
used only by the ruby throated hummingbird so
far. |
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| We wondered where the
female oriole might be. Last year one boldly ate
suet from our feeders, even those placed very
close to our best viewing window. On May 9,
2009, we saw a female drink nectar from the
blossoms on the same cherry tree the male had
used. She took her time and drank from many
flowers. The next day after fierce winds and
rain, the tree was stripped of all the pink
cherry blossoms. The orioles have not been seen
as much since. |
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| On May 16, 2009, I saw
the female pulling nesting material that had
previously been used by tufted titmice.
Unfortunately my camera and I were not speedy
enough. But the next day, we did capture her
visiting a suet feeder until a grackle had the
same idea. He didn't chase her but she was still
intimidated by his size. |
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May
2, 2009 - Food Guy and I were in the front yard
with the camera trying to follow a woodpecker's
drumming, when I saw a flash of orange in the
tiny (four old trees) apple orchard. A quick
look through the camera lens proved that it was
indeed the Baltimore oriole male. Last year we
caught a brief blurry photo on May 10th when we
were putting in our equally tiny pond. We have
put out a hummingbird feeder and a new oriole
feeder (with an orange half and some grape
jelly), but we have had no apparent takers so
far- time to freshen the contents.
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| In early May, 2008 we were
trying to snap photos of our tree swallow couple
defending their prospective nesting box from a
house sparrow. A flash of orange crossed
overhead. All we could record was a blurry,
distant male Baltimore oriole in a tall tree top
at the edge of the tree line. What a
disappointment! |
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Food Guy has an ongoing
competition with a former neighbor about having
Baltimore Orioles in the yard (neighbor has
some, we never did). We waited and scanned the
tree tops relentlessly.
About ten days later, we saw a
new (to us) bird picking enthusiastically on a
suet cake at my best photo taking window.
It took almost every resource we had to put a
name to her. Most books and websites
showed the female oriole with an orange head.
Ours was definitely black and orange speckled.
One source finally said a female Baltimore
Oriole could look like a disheveled male.
Exactly! She wasn't overly shy and readily posed
for many shots. She returned many times
after that for her favorite suet.
After the oriole's initial
visit, we immediately purchased a hummingbird
feeder and filled it with a special citrus
flavored oriole drink. She wasn't
interested. The original source for this
idea failed to mention that while oriole have
been known to use this type of feeder, they
should be equipped with a bar to perch on for
the non-hovering type birds. Did we feel stupid!
Back to the store for the more
appropriate feeder for an oriole. We hung
it in hopes of seeing her and maybe even her
mate enjoy the treat. She continued to eat only
the suet. And apparently her guy is not unlike
my Food Guy who prefers to eat closer to home
and not in a crowd.
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Size:
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Length: 7-8.75in
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Weight: 1.2 oz |
Wingspan: 11.5-12 in |
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ID:
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Male: Bright orange underparts,
shoulder, rump and outer tail feathers;
black hood, back, wings and tail;
white wing bars; long, pointed silver
bill; silvery gray feet anisodactylous
(three toes point forward and one toe
points backward)
Female and Juvenile:Upperparts brownish
olive; underparts orange; random black
markings on head and throat
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Habitat:
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Woodlands, residential areas and
parklands with mature deciduous trees
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Diet:
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Gleans shrubs for fruit and insects
(ants, caterpillars, moths, aphids);
probe flowers for nectar; feeders for
orange segments and hummingbird feeders
for nectar; will also eat suet
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Family Behavior:
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Mating Habits:Monogamous and
solitary or in pairs; male displays by
alternating stretching to full height
and bowing while spreading tail and
wings; will eject cowbird eggs; 1 brood
per year
Local Breeding Period: May
Nests Female builds; intricately
woven, pendulous, hanging nest of plant
fibers, yarn, string, hair, grass and
spider webs; hangs from end of drooping
branch; never reuses nest
Eggs: 4-6 pale bluish white streaked
and blotched with brown markings; female
incubates 12-14 days
Nestlings: Born altricial (helpless,
naked, eyes closed) and stay in nest
12-14 days; male and female feed
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Social Activities:
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Family groups after nesting (some
males remain solitary); often joins
mixed foraging flocks for winter and
migration
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Range:
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Breeding: Most of Eastern half of US
(except deep south) and southern Canada
Winter: Deep south coastal regions,
Mexico and Central America
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Vocalization:
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Song is series of flutelike whistles
(peter, peter, peter); call is two note
tea-too and rapid ch, ch, ch; flight
call is veet
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| Lifespan: |
Up to 11 years |
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