The Baltimore Oriole is a brightly colored bird that is hard to miss. The male has a bright orange belly and under parts with a black head and back.
He also has black wings with showy white wing bars. And from behind, he also has an orange rump.
The female also has an orange belly, but it is not as bright. She has a gray head and wings instead of black.
Orioles fly South in the Winter and Return North to breed in the Spring, where they weave elaborate hanging basket nests.
Baltimore Orioles breed in Eastern and Central U.S. and Canada and a very similar species/subspecies; Bullock's Orioles breed in Western and Central the
Western states and provinces. Where they meet in the middle, they can hybridize. At one time, scientists said that meant there was only one species
and changed both species names to Northern Oriole. New DNA evidence shows they don't hybridize as much as previously thought, so both original names
have been restored and the current thinking is they are two separate species.
Official Maryland State Bird: Baltimore Oriole
American Ornithologists' Union Common Name: Baltimore Oriole
Other names: Northern Oriole
Family: Icteridae, Blackbirds
Scientific name: Icterus galbula
Length: 8.25" (22 cm)
Diet: Insects, fruit nectar, few spiders, snails; some buds
in spring.
Voice: Song a short series of rich, clear, whistled notes
pidoo tewdi tewdi yewdi tew tidew; variable in pattern, with
pauses between each phrase; often gives simple two-note whistle
hulee and variations. Call a dry, harsh, uneven rattle. Flight
call a husky, tinny, trumpeting veeet.
Habitat: Deciduous, open woodland; elms, shade trees.
Displays: Courting male rises to full height, bows low to
female with tail spread and wings slightly raised; alternates between
these two postures.
Number of broods: 1
Nest: In deciduous tree, usually 15-30' above
ground, rarely in coniferous tree; pendulum nest attached at rim or
secured at sides to drooping branch; woven of plant fiber strips,
lined with grass, plant down, hair. Built in 4.5-15 days.
Eggs: Averages 4-5 pale grayish- to bluish-white
eggs, marked with dark colors. 0.9" (23 mm).
Incubation period: 12-14 days
Fledge: 12-14 days after hatching
Longevity Record: 12 Years and 0 months (according to USGS Bird Banding Lab)
Baltimore Oriole Nest Video
Watch bothe the male and female Baltimore Oriole feed chicks in the nest.
Baltimore Oriole Nest Building Video
Watch the female weave the nest.
History:
The Baltimore Oriole has been the Maryland State Bird since 1947. In 1894, Baltimore's major league baseball team was named after the State Bird.
