Birds: The Northern Oriole

Text from enature.com

Recently the Baltimore Oriole was combined with the western Bullock's Oriole as a single species, the Northern Oriole. When trees were planted on the Great Plains, the two forms extended their ranges and met. Despite the differences in their appearance, it was found that they interbred, and that most birds in the central plains were hybrids, so the birds were combined into a single species. Now, it seems that in some places the birds are choosing mates of their own type, and they are considered separate species again.
description 7-8 1/2" (18-22 cm). Male has black head, back, wings, and tail; orange breast, rump, and shoulder patch. Female olive-brown, with dull yellow-orange underparts and 2 dull white wing bars.



NORTHERN ORIOLE
Finding an oriole's nest in summer isn't easy. Hidden in the upper branches of a tall maple or elm, the nest looks like a gray basket, woven of milkweed silk, plant fibers and hair. Northern orioles feed in the trees, searching for caterpillars, beetles and fruit. During winter, orioles drink mostly nectar from flowers.
Habitat: Northern orioles nest throughout the U.S. and into Canada. Wintering habitat includes scattered trees and woodland borders from Mexico to Colombia and Venezuela.

I saw one of these flying last summer, while mowing the lawn. I was pretty drunk, so I doubted the next day if I really did see it or not.

Thankfully it flew by again and I got a better look. The dark oarnge with the black made it an awesome site.


Later, Sandy and I saw the female, and didn't know what it was. It looked like a Golden finch, cept that it was yellow most of it's body and was thinner, more sleek.

Really a neato bird.