Scott's Oriole

About the Scott's Oriole

Scott's oriole (Icterus parisorum) is a species of bird in the family Icteridae, the oropendolas, New World orioles, and New World blackbirds. It is found in Mexico and the United States. Scott's oriole was formally described by French ornithologist Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1838 with the binomial Icterus Parisorum [sic]. Bonaparte's specific epithet Parisorum (since uncapitalized) honors the Paris brothers, who had financed French natural history expeditions to the U. S. and Mexico. American soldier and naturalist Darius N. Couch named it Scott's oriole in honor of General Winfield Scott, without knowing that the bird had previously been described by Bonaparte.

There have been proposals to rename this species the yucca oriole to reflect its preferred habitat, and to address the negative historical connotations associated with its current namesake's involvement in the Trail of Tears and other episodes of ethnic cleansing in the Southeastern United States.

Scott's oriole is monotypic. Scott's oriole is about 23 cm (9.1 in) long with a wingspan of 32 cm (13 in); it weighs 32 to 41 g (1.1 to 1.4 oz). Adult males in breeding plumage have... Wikipedia →