Icterus bullockii
The male Bullock's Oriole has a striking, Halloween-like, black-and-orange plumage that flashes like embers amidst the treetops, while its sibilant whistles drip to the ground. This is the common oriole of the West. Once thought to interbreed freely with the Baltimore Oriole, the birds were lumped together as one species: the Northern Oriole. Just as the birding community adjusted to the changes, new work has shown that the birds interbreed rarely enough that they can be considered two distinct species. In naming this bird, William Swainson honored a father-son team of hobby naturalists in Mexico (both of whom were named William Bullock). |
I.D.: Male: bright orange eyebrow, cheek, underparts, rump and outer tail feathers; black throat, eye line, cap, back and central tail feathers; large, white wing patch. Female: dusky yellow face, throat and upper breast; gray underparts; olive-gray upperparts and tail; small, white wing patches. Size: L 7-81/2 in. (18-22 cm). Range: uncommon to locally common migrant and summer visitor throughout the U.S. Rockies. Habitat: riparian forests, willow shrublands, urban areas and deciduous river valleys up to the montane. Nesting: typically west of the Rockies and locally on the Great Plains; high in a deciduous tree, suspended from a branch; hanging pouch nest is woven with fine plant fibers, hair, string and fishing line and lined with horsehair, plant down, fur and moss; female incubates 4-5 eggs for 12-14 days. Feeding: gleans canopy vegetation and shrubs for caterpillars, beetles, wasps and other invertebrates; also eats fruit and nectar; occasionally visits feeding stations that offer hummingbird feeders and orange halves. Voice: accented series of 6-8 whistled, rich and guttural notes. Similar Species: Baltimore Oriole: lacks the orange cheek and the large, white wing patch. Black-headed Grosbeak: heavy, conical bill; black cheek; darker underparts. Western Tanager: yellow body plumage; lacks the black cap and throat. |
