Orioles, Baltimore
Icterus galbula L 8.5–8.75 inches.
Colorful woodland bird. Bill is slender, pointed, and gray. Sexes are dissimilar.
ADULT MALE Has black hood and back, and orange “shoulders” and underparts. Dark wings have white wing bar and white edges to flight feathers. Rump is orange and tail is orange overall with dark base and midline.
ADULT FEMALE Similar, but hood and back are variably mottled dark olive- brown, and “shoulder” stripe is white; rump and tail are dull orange-buff.
IMMATURE Recalls adult female, but male is richer orange on breast and undertail coverts; female is much paler over-all, especially on belly.
VOICE Song is a whistling chew-di-chewdi-chew-chew-che, uttered as though bird is losing enthusiasm; call is a rattle.
STATUS AND HABITAT Common summer visitor (mainly May–Aug) to deciduous woodlands. Winters mainly in Central and South America; a few linger in southeastern U.S.
OBSERVATION TIPS Easy to see in suitable wooded habitats.
Return to two-page spread from Birds of Eastern North America