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Bullock's Oriole

(Icterus bullockii)

Adult Male
Photo by Earle A. Robinson

    		There is some confusion surrounding the Bullock's Oriole and its eastern cousin, the Baltimore Oriole.      
                Ornithologists seem to be going back and forth as to whether these are separate species or just separate 
                races of the same species. It was believed that they were separate, then, that they were both part of 
                the same species 'Northern Oriole'. Presently, it has again been decided that it is a species of its own,
                after all, not just a race of another. You may find these orioles listed separately in field guides,
                or both under 'Northern'.			

SIZE             : 6 1/2 inches long

DESCRIPTION      : Male - Orange face, black eye-line, large white patches on wings and a black cap on head.
                   Immature fall male yellowish with black throat and eye-line.In spring, male like adult, 
                   but without white  patches on wings.
                   Female - Yellowish head and breast; whitish belly. Immature female like adult.
                   Call is a melodic collection of six or seven loud whistles in announcing its territory, same as the 
                   Baltimore's. A harsh chatter is an alarm call. Both genders sing.

PREFERRED HABITAT: Shade trees and woods edges

PREFERRED FOOD   : Insects and fruit, especially oranges

BREEDING RANGE   : West of the Great Plains, Its territory takes over, where that of the Baltimore Oriole's leaves off.
                   There is an area of overlap where the two ranges meet. The birds will still sometimes interbreed, 
                   although not as often as in the past.

WINTER RANGE     : Mexico to northern South America

INTERESTING FACTS: Not shy of people - will readily visit an inviting yard 
                   Common in wooded areas in spring and summer
                   Will often come to a feeder for berries, orange halves, nutmeats, suet and syrup 
		   Sometimes they learn to use hummingbird feeders
                   Really appreciate offerings of nesting material: drape shrubs and bushes with short strands of string 
                   They build an ingenious gourd-shaped nest, about 5 inches long
                   The nests are attached to twigs at the sides and top.
                   Very territorial; one male will quickly chase another one away from 'his area'