Birds of Cuba, Vagrant Visitors, Introduced Birds and Possibilities

Orchard Oriole

Oriole des vergers

Icterus spurius

Life, Habitat & Pictures of the Orchard Oriole

B L	W W	W	Family	Latin Name
7.25" 18.4cm	9.5" 24.1cm	0.7oz 19.8g	Icteridae	Icterus spurius

Species: The Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) is found throughout most of the southeastern regions of North America. Prefers habitats with open woods, parks, orchards and rural areas. Familiar with people and dwellings and may be approached without alarming the bird.

Distinctions: Sexually dimorphic, the male has a black head, back, wings and tail feathers. Body and scapulars are burnt orange. Females and juveniles have greenish upper bodies with yellow underparts. Young males are very similar to the female's colours but will show a small darker bib in the throat region.

Voice: Sound resembling types of whistles, notes are not as fluent as other oriole species, lyrics fall into chattering notes.

Nesting: Four to five light grey or blue coloured eggs, with purple squiggles throughout. Builds enclosed nest, similar to other species of orioles, made from grass, plant fibres and manmade item, such as string or cord. Nest is attached to a branch or a tree limb, where it hangs and is able to sway in the wind.

Distribution: Found throughout wooded areas, parks and orchards, seen from Maine through southern Ontario, into the northern USA states, up into the southern parts of the prairie provinces as far as Saskatchewan, then down into New Mexico and across into southern Florida. This oriole has been reported seen in Cuba.

Birds of Cuba