Orchard Oriole
Orchard OrioleOrchard OrioleOrchard OrioleOrchard Oriole

Orchard Oriole

Icterus spurius

Silhouette: Matt Wilkins · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Joshua Tree National Park
30 Verified sightings at Joshua Tree National Park From 2019 to 2026
11,171 Verified sightings across all 52 parks From 2019 to 2026
February Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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 Joshua Tree National Park

Hooded Oriole
LC

Hooded Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus cucullatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Scott's Oriole
LC

Scott's Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus parisorum

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Bullock's Oriole

Bullock's Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus bullockii

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Baltimore Oriole
LC

Baltimore Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus galbula

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Great-tailed Grackle
LC

Great-tailed Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus mexicanus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Brewer's Blackbird
NT

Brewer's Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Euphagus cyanocephalus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Western Meadowlark
LC

Western Meadowlark

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sturnella neglecta

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Brown-headed Cowbird
LC

Brown-headed Cowbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Molothrus ater

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Bronzed Cowbird
LC

Bronzed Cowbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Molothrus aeneus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Red-winged Blackbird
LC

Red-winged Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Agelaius phoeniceus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Common Grackle
NT

Common Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus quiscula

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Yellow-headed Blackbird
LC

Yellow-headed Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~40%
2 El Triunfo 🇲🇽 Mexico
~30%
3 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
~30%
4 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
5 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
6 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
7 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
8 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~10%
9 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~10%
10 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
~10%
11 San Lorenzo Protected Forest 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
12 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
13 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
~10%
14 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
15 Tikal National Park 🇬🇹 Guatemala
~10%
16 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
17 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
18 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
19 Masaya Volcano National Park 🇳🇮 Nicaragua
<5%
20 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
21 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
22 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
23 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
24 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
25 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
26 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
27 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
28 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
29 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
30 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
31 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
32 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
33 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
34 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
35 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
36 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
37 Parque Natural Metropolitano 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
38 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
39 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
40 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
41 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
42 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
43 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
44 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
45 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
46 Tayrona National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
47 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
48 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
49 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
50 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
51 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
52 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Orchard Oriole in Joshua Tree National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Orchard Oriole sighting in Joshua Tree National Park, based on 30 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Orchard Oriole in Joshua Tree National Park?

February has the highest sighting rate for Orchard Oriole in Joshua Tree National Park in our monthly data.

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