Orchard Oriole
Icterus spurius
Silhouette: Matt Wilkins · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyIcteridae (New World Blackbirds and Orioles)
- GenusIcterus (New World Orioles)
- SpeciesIcterus spurius (Orchard Oriole)
About the Orchard Oriole
The orchard oriole (Icterus spurius) is the smallest species of icterid. The subspecies of the Caribbean coast of Mexico, I. s. fuertesi, is sometimes considered a separate species, the ochre oriole or Fuertes's oriole. The orchard oriole is a small bird with a length of 5.9-7.1 inches, a weight of 0.6-1.0 ounces, and a wingspan of 9.8 inches. Adult males have chestnut or ochre underparts, while adult females and juveniles have olive-green upper parts and yellowish breasts and bellies. They inhabit semi-open areas with deciduous trees in eastern North America, southern Tamaulipas, and Veracruz. Their winter range extends from central Sinaloa and southern Veracruz to northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela.
Orchard orioles prefer living near lakes and streams, nesting in tightly woven pouches attached to horizontal tree branches. They are nocturnal migrants and feed on insects, spiders, fruit, nectar, and seeds depending on the season. During flight, they usually swoop close to the ground and fly at or below treetop level. Courtship displays include bowing, seesawing, and begging. The species name "spurius" refers to their original misidentification as female Baltimore orioles, and they are sometimes mistaken for New World warblers. Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Darién National Park
Orange-crowned Oriole
Icterus auricapillus
Yellow-backed Oriole
Icterus chrysater
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
Yellow-tailed Oriole
Icterus mesomelas
Crested Oropendola
Psarocolius decumanus
Chestnut-headed Oropendola
Psarocolius wagleri
Black Oropendola
Psarocolius guatimozinus
Great-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus mexicanus
Yellow-rumped Cacique
Cacicus cela
Shiny Cowbird
Molothrus bonariensis
Giant Cowbird
Molothrus oryzivorus
Red-breasted Blackbird
Sturnella militaris
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Orchard Oriole in Darién National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Orchard Oriole sighting in Darién National Park, based on 153 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Orchard Oriole in Darién National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Orchard Oriole in Darién National Park in our monthly data.