Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
The male Baltimore Oriole is a brilliant orange-and-black bird. Mark Catesby first described it in 1731, naming it for Lord Baltimore, the colonial proprietor of the Maryland colony, whose family coat-of-arms was orange and black. It is no surprise that this oriole is the state bird of Maryland today. This species can be found in Tennessee from late April through early September. It is fairly common during migration, but only breeds in scattered locations across the state. Its breeding range extends from central Canada eastward across the United States, and in winter it migrates in flocks to southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America, with some birds wintering in Florida and the Caribbean.
Description: Adult males have a black head and back, and a bright orange breast and underparts. The wings are black with orange and white wingbars, and the tail is black with orange corners. The female is variable but similar to the male; she is often brownish where the male is black, a duller orange below, and has dark wings with two white wingbars. First-year males and females (August-March) resemble the adult female but are paler. Males do not reach adult plumage until their second fall.
Length: 8.75"
Wingspan: 11.5"
Weight: 1.2 oz
Voice: The song is a variable series of rich, clear, whistled notes. The call is a dry, harsh chatter.
Similar Species:
- The Orchard Oriole male also has a black head but is smaller and a deep chestnut color, not bright orange. The female is greenish-yellow, not orange-yellow.
Habitat: Baltimore Orioles breed in woodland edges and open areas with scattered deciduous trees, also parks and suburban areas. They winter in humid forests and second growth.
Diet: Caterpillars, fruits, insects, spiders, and nectar.
Nesting and reproduction: Egg laying peaks in mid-May in Tennessee, and only one brood is raised per season. Baltimore Orioles only rarely nest at the same site in consecutive years.
Clutch Size: 3 to 5 eggs, with 4 eggs most common.
Incubation: The female incubates the eggs for 12 to 14 days.
Fledging: Both adults feed the young, which fledge in 12 to 14 days.
Nest: The female weaves the distinctive deep pouch nest from long strips of milkweed and other plant fibers, occasionally using string, hair, bits of rags, or fishing line. The nest is attached by its rim to the fork of a tree branch near the outer edge of the canopy. Sycamore trees are the trees most frequently used in Tennessee. Nest height averages 28 feet above the ground, with a range of 12 to 75 feet.
Status in Tennessee: The Baltimore Oriole is an uncommon summer resident and a fairly common migrant in the state. It is present from late April through early September. The population in Tennessee appears to be increasing.
Dynamic map of Baltimore Oriole eBird observations in Tennessee
Fun Facts:
- The oldest recorded Baltimore Oriole in the wild lived to be 12 years old, and 14 years old in captivity.
- The Baltimore Oriole hybridizes extensively with the Bullock's Oriole where their ranges overlap in the Great Plains, and from 1973 to 1995 were considered the same species: the Northern Oriole. Surprisingly, recent genetic studies indicate that the two species are not very closely related.
- Young male Baltimore Orioles do not achieve the full adult plumage until the fall of their second year. However, some first-year males, with female-like plumage, succeed in attracting mates and nesting successfully.
- Orioles can be attracted to yards by placing oranges, sliced in half, on stakes near feeders or on trees.
Obsolete English Names: black-backed oriole, Bullock's Oriole, northern oriole, western oriole, hang-nest
Best places to see in Tennessee: Baltimore Orioles are most easily seen in open deciduous woodlands during spring and fall migration across the state. They nest in scattered locations along rivers and reservoirs statewide.
For more information:
University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
Sources:
Nicholson, C. P. 1997. Atlas of Breeding Birds of Tennessee. Univ. of TN Press, Knoxville.
Rising, J. D. and N. J. Flood. 1998. Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula), The Birds of North America, No. 384. (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.
Sibley, D. A. 2000. The Sibley Guide to Birds. A. A. Knopf, New York, NY.
Consider using the online bird checklist program at eBird to help us understand bird populations and distributions in Tennessee. Click here to see how.