Yellow-backed Oriole
Icterus chrysater
Silhouette: Matt Wilkins · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyIcteridae (New World Blackbirds and Orioles)
- GenusIcterus (New World Orioles)
- SpeciesIcterus chrysater (Yellow-backed Oriole)
About the Yellow-backed Oriole
The yellow-backed oriole (Icterus chrysater) is a species of bird in the family Icteridae. Yellow-backed orioles are a yellow-bodied, sexually monomorphic species. They average 21.5 cm (8.5 in) in length from beak to tail; making it a relatively medium-sized oriole species. Exposed skin and claws are bluish-black; in adults, the bill is black, with the base of the mandible becoming bluish-grey.
Adult males display strongly contrasting yellow and black plumage. The wings, tail, shoulders, throat, and face are all black; by contrast, the back and underparts are an extremely bright yellow. Adult females closely resemble males, but yellow parts appear slightly greenish. Despite differences in plumage coloration between sexes, it is likely that this species is extremely difficult to sex in the field.
Immature yellow-backed orioles resemble adult females in overall pattern, but are greener; additionally, the flight feathers, which are black in females, are dark brown. Immature yellow-backed orioles are easily distinguished from adult females by their olive eye-line.
Similar species include the South American yellow oriole (Icterus nigrogularis). Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Yellow-backed Oriole in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
Hooded Oriole
Icterus cucullatus
Altamira Oriole
Icterus gularis
Orange Oriole
Icterus auratus
Black-cowled Oriole
Icterus prosthemelas
Orchard Oriole
Icterus spurius
Yellow-tailed Oriole
Icterus mesomelas
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
Great-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus mexicanus
Melodious Blackbird
Dives dives
Yellow-billed Cacique
Amblycercus holosericeus
Bronzed Cowbird
Molothrus aeneus
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Yellow-backed Oriole in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Yellow-backed Oriole sighting in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, based on 373 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Yellow-backed Oriole in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve?
December has the highest sighting rate for Yellow-backed Oriole in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve in our monthly data.