Bullock's Oriole
Icterus bullockii
The common oriole in the western U.S., wintering throughout Mexico. Adult males have a large white wing patch and mostly orange face with a black eyeline. Females are duller overall, mostly gray on the belly, usually with brightest orange on the face. Immature males are similar to females, but usually slightly brighter and with a black throat and eyeline. Breeds in riparian corridors and open woods; winters in any wooded habitat. Visits feeders with nectar and fruits. Females can be very difficult to distinguish from Baltimore Oriole, and hybrids do occur. Bullock's is usually brightest on the face, not the breast.
Identification
Bullock's orioles are sexually dimorphic, with males being more brightly colored than females. In addition, adult males tend to be slightly larger and heavier than females.<p>Measurements:<p>Adults have a pointed bill with a straight culmen. In adult males, the tail is long, square, and jet black. All exposed skin is black, as are the claws and bill, though the base of the lower mandible lightens to bluish-gray.<p>Adult males are characterized by strongly contrasting orange and black plumage, a black throat patch, and a white wing bar. The underparts, breast, and face are orange or yellow; by contrast, the back, wings, and tail are black. A black line extends from each eye to the black crown. The wing coverts (feathers not directly used in flight) are fringed white, forming a wing patch. Although the tail is mostly black, the outermost three or four rectrices (flight feathers) are tipped orange, forming a "T" shape. Adult females, by contrast, have gray-brown upperparts, duller yellow on the breast and underparts, and an olive crown. Some females may also have a dark throat patch, similar to (but less extensive than) the one found in adult males; in all cases, females lack the black eye-line present in adult males. Females with throat patches are thought to be older individuals.<p>Following the general pattern observed among icterids, the overall plumage pattern seen in immature male Bullock's orioles closely resembles that seen in adult females. Juveniles resemble adult females, but have darker wings, fresh wing coverts, and a pink or whitish bill. Sexual dimorphism is not obvious in juveniles.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Icterus bullockii
- Authority
- (Swainson, 1827)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Icteridae
- Genus
- Icterus
Range and habitat
Bullock's orioles are native to western North America, though they are sometimes found as vagrants in the eastern half of the continent. During the breeding season, they are found as far west as the eastern foothills of the Cascade Range. Their breeding range stretches east to the Dakotas, Kansas, and northern Central Texas. This species can be found as far north as British Columbia in Canada and as far south as Sonora or Durango in Mexico. It is common throughout its range, but is absent in parts of Arizona and Idaho, where a combination of extreme elevation and an arid climate make for poor living conditions. During winter, this species retreats to Mexico and northern Central America. Its winter range extends south and east from Sinaloa to Oaxaca.
- Breeding range
- NA : sw Canada through w USA to n Mexico
- Non-breeding range
- Mexico to Nicaragua
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Like other members of the Icteridae, Bullock's orioles prefer habitat edges. They especially prefer riparian corridors, open deciduous woodland, and scrub forest. Observations during the breeding season indicate that members of this species prefer areas with an abundance of cottonwood, pecan, and (if near water) willow. In dry areas, this species prefers salt cedar and mesquite. In California, eucalyptus trees are used as major sources of nectar.<p>These birds forage in trees and shrubs, also making short flights to catch insects. They mainly eat insects, berries, and nectar. Other fruits eaten include oranges and sometimes grapes. In some locations, they may be seen using hummingbird feeders.<p>These birds readily come to a dish filled with grape jelly. Their parents lead the fledglings, feed them jelly, and then the adult males leave the area. The young stay at the jelly dish from first feeding in early July and leave late September.[citation needed]
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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