Orchard Oriole

Orchard Oriole - Our Smallest Oriole

Orchard Oriole Male

The Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) is our smallest oriole.  The only other oriole species we regularly have is the Baltimore Oriole which is 22cm/8.7" long compared to the 18 cm/7" of the Orchard Oriole.  The Orchard Oriole is a very rare spring visitor usually to the southern part of the province, mainly to the Fundy coast.  The number of visitors each year varies from none to several.  One banner year (1997) brought more than 30 records.

Orioles are members of the blackbird family, Icteridae.  Other members of this family include bobolinks, blackbirds, meadowlarks, grackles, and cowbirds.  The normal summer range of the Orchard Oriole is the eastern half of the US north to the Great Lakes and the southern prairies.  In the east it normally is found north to New York State and Massachusetts.  It winters in Central America and northwestern South America.  It prefers open woodlands, orchards, and suburban gardens.

Orchard Oriole - Male  [Internet Photo]

The male Orchard Oriole is not as striking in appearance as the Baltimore Oriole.  It is black on the head and back and shows a chestnut brown on its breast, flanks and rump.   The bill is black with blue on the lower mandible.  There is a white wing bar and the flight feathers show white edges.  The tail is all black unlike that of the Baltimore Oriole which is black and orange.  

Orchard Oriole - Female  [Internet Photo]

The female Orchard Oriole is difficult to identify.  She can be confused with female Scarlet or Summer Tanagers.  The tanagers, however, have large light-coloured bills and no wing bars.  The female Orchard Oriole is olive green above and bright yellow below and shows two white wing bars.  I have never seen a female Orchard Oriole but look forward to finding one here some summer.  See the photo above.

The immature male Orchard Oriole looks much like the female but shows a black bib and lores (area in front of the eye).  Sometimes by summer it shows some chestnut on the breast.  The photo below shows an immature Orchard Oriole which I photographed in Grand Manan recently.

Orchard Oriole - Immature Male

The Orchard Oriole normally eats insects, nectar, flowers and fruits.  It builds its nest in trees or bushes and out of grass and lines it with plant down.  It weaves its nest just like the Baltimore Oriole does.  It normally lays 3 to 7 pale blue or gray eggs with gray, purple or brown spots.  The female incubates the eggs for 12 to 14 days.  The song of the Orchard Oriole is a long series of rich whistles, just as pretty as the song of the Baltimore Oriole but different.  Its call note is a distinctive 'chuck'.  

Orchard Oriole - Male

The male Orchard Oriole shown above was photographed in the Fredericton area.  It is interesting to note that this is the second year this individual has come to this location.  Last year he was in immature plumage.  This species is a loyal feeder species.  They readily eat sugar solution, oranges, suet, jelly and raisins.  This individual has found a wonderful place to spend the summer.  We all hope it can find a mate.  

Orchard Orioles usually appear late in the spring, after their cousins, the Baltimore Oriole.  They also leave very early for the south, sometimes as early as mid-July.  They have a long way to go!

The Latin name for this oriole, 'spurius', which means spurious or illegitimate was given because it was confused in the early days with the Baltimore Oriole.  That is interesting because it is easier to tell the Orchard Oriole from the Baltimore than it is to differentiate the many other species of orioles which don't occur here.

I hope the Orchard Oriole becomes numerous enough here so there is no longer any confusion!