Scott's Oriole
Icterus parisorum
This black-and-yellow oriole prefers dry habitats where yuccas are plentiful, often on steep hillsides. Males are particularly striking; look for the black back, head, and breast, bright white wingbar, and yellow shoulder. Females are duller grayish above, often retaining some black on the breast and throat. Young birds are quite dull; look for dull mottled streaking on the back. Listen for its whistled song, a rather fast series of clear notes. Feeds on insects, nectar, and fruit. Occurs from the southwestern U.S. to Oaxaca, where it can be found in mixed pine-oak woodland as well as dry desert hillsides.
Identification
Measurements:
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Icterus parisorum
- Authority
- Bonaparte, 1838
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Icteridae
- Genus
- Icterus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Snow Petrel
Pagodroma nivea
An unmistakable dreamlike vision of a bird, whiter than the snowy Antarctic peaks and glaciers against which it flies. Breeds on rocky cliffs and ledges, both coastal and inland, and forages around the pack ice. Frequently lands to rest on icebergs, sometimes in small groups. Flight fast and erratic, often incorporating frequent flapping.
Delicate Prinia
Prinia lepida
Tiny, disproportionately long-tailed, active, and vocal. The upperparts are gray-brown with heavy dark streaking, the underparts are pale, and each tail feather shows both pale and dark tips. Generally found in rather moist habitats within arid zones, including field margins, riparian woodland, scrub, gardens, and wetlands; can be quite numerous. Very vocal, especially in spring. The song is a rattling series of dry chirps, subtly different from the slower-paced song of Graceful Prinia. Males often sing from obvious perches. Visually extremely similar to Graceful Prinia, but there is little overlap in range. In any areas of overlap, best separated by song, but Delicate is also slightly longer- and narrower-tailed and browner.
Black-chested Fruiteater
Pipreola lubomirskii
Scarce fruiteater found in cloud forest along the east slope of the Andes in Ecuador, southern Colombia, and northern Peru. Male has a solid black hood that is not bordered by yellow on the neck. Female is mostly green with yellow streaking on her belly. Yellow eyes and dark legs are also useful features in both sexes to separate them from similar species. Feeds on berries at middle to upper levels in the forest. Gives very high-pitched whistles, some very short and others long and drawn out.
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