Audubon's Oriole
Icterus graduacauda
Entirely yellow body with greenish back and black hood. Young birds slightly paler than adults; they develop black hood within a couple months of hatching. Tends to be more secretive than other orioles. A Mexican species with limited U.S. range. Most similar to Scott's Oriole but note greenish, not black, back; range does not overlap. Found in wooded habitats with dense brushy undergrowth. Sometimes visits feeders for fruit and seed. Song a slow series of low-pitched whistles.
Identification
The male of the species has a black hood, mandible, and throat, as well as a black tail. Wings are black, but the remiges and rectrices (flight feathers) are fringed with white. The secondary coverts form yellow epaulets. The back and vent are yellow washed with olive, and the underside is almost uniformly yellow. Females of this species have a slightly more olive nape and back than the males. The adult female's plumage is similar to the juvenile plumage; however, unlike adults, the wings are dull brown instead of black. In general, immature specimens have the hood; wingbars; remiges; and epaulets of adult specimens. The first-basic plumage retains the darker, greener coloration of the juvenile plumage, however. Molting generally occurs in early autumn, though some specimens have been noted to molt as early as June.<p>The subspecies I. g. dickeyae is of note because of the differences in appearance, behavior, and phylogeny between it and the other subspecies of I. graduacauda. The olive wash is weaker, making the bird more proportionally yellow than others of its species. In addition, the yellow epaulets are diminished in dickeyae, being confined to the lesser coverts. This subspecies is endemic to high altitude pine forests is western Mexico.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Icterus graduacauda
- Authority
- Lesson, RP, 1839
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Icteridae
- Genus
- Icterus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Audubon's oriole inhabits dense evergreen forests and thickets, preferring riparian (riverside) areas. Though it prefers the shade, mating pairs may occasionally spotted foraging in clearings. In flight, it joins mixed-species flocks that include orioles, jays, tanagers, and other birds of similar size. It forages in dense vegetation, often near forest clearings.<p>The nest of the Audubon's oriole is similar in size and construction to those of the hooded and orchard orioles, being approximately three inches in diameter with a similar depth. It resembles a hanging pouch or basket, not as deep as other species'. The rim is firmly woven to the supporting twigs and the entrance is somewhat constricted. The nest itself is usually composed of long grass stems, woven while they are still green and lined with finer grass.<p>A mating pair of orioles usually incubates two broods per year, each consisting of between three and five eggs per brood; however, chicks hatched from the later brood are usually unable to survive the winter. This species' nests are often a popular choice of parasitization by the Brown-headed cowbird.<p>The song of the Audubon's oriole is a series of slow, slurry whistles. Its calls include a nasal "ike, ike, ike" and a whistled "peu".<p>It inserts its bill into soft dead wood or plants and uses its beak to force said plant open to expose insects hiding inside. It feeds on insects, spiders, fruits, and also accepts sunflower seeds from bird feeders.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Collared Treepie
Dendrocitta frontalis
Like many other treepies, this is a noisy, social bird, often seen in flocks moving through the canopy and through openings in the forest. Extensively black face, silver hood, and lack of a wing patch distinguish this species from other treepies in its range. Inhabits forests from the lowlands up to montane areas. Loud, with a varied repertoire of whistles, clinks, and squawks.
Oriental Greenfinch
Chloris sinica
A bright gregarious finch found in a wide range of woodlands, often detected by its high-pitched twittering call as it flies overhead. Adult unmistakable within range, with yellowish-olive face, vivid yellow wing patches, and brown body tinged with yellow-green. Juvenile streaky yellowish-brown overall, with yellow wing patches.
Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill
Bycanistes subcylindricus
Big, spectacular, black-and-white hornbill. The males have a large black-and-white bill, and females a much smaller all-dark one. In flight, shows a broad white patch at the back of the wing and a black tail with white sides. Found in thick forest and adjacent areas of lush woodland and cultivation. Usually in pairs or small groups. The loud calls are honking and yapping notes that are often given in a quick series. Similar to White-thighed and Brown-cheeked Hornbills, but has a black center to the tail, and the wingtips are black. Also has a darker bill and casque than those species.
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