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Baltimore Oriole
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| Listen to Oriole (Northern) |
The Baltimore Oriole
makes its way from Mexico and South America, its wintering grounds, to the US and Canada to begin its mating, nesting, and feeding habits.Description
These birds are 7 - 8 1/2 inches long. The male is black with orange underparts, rump, shoulders, and sides of tail. The wings have 2 white wing bars.The females are olive above, yellowish below with 2 white wing bars. This particular bird is found east of the Rockies.
Its western counterpart; the Bullock's Oriole, is similar in appearance.
The male has an orange face, black eyeline and a large white wing patch.
The female Bullock has a yellowish head and breast and whitish belly.
While the major league team (Baltimore Orioles) adopted this birds name and colors, the bird itself, got its name from George Calvert, Lord Baltimore, a 17th-century nobleman whose coat of arms used the same colors.
Because the two birds interbreed in the Central Plains and have similar types of habits, the American Ornithologists Union renamed both birds and called them The Northern Oriole.
Although research on the relationship of these two birds is ongoing.
Baltimore Oriole Mating Habits
The mating season begins in late April to early May. The males arrive 2 or 3 days before the females and begins claiming their territories.Their singing is almost constant until they mate with a female.
Generally, any singing late in the season is from unmated or immature birds. Once the birds have found a mate they defend their territory and begin nesting.
Baltimore Oriole Nesting Habits
Like many other birds, the female Baltimore Oriole is the primary nest builder. Making a hanging nest made from plant fibers and suspended from a branch 6 to 90 feet above ground.Bird watchers will find the best viewing of these nest is when the leaves are off the trees. You'll see them at the end of branches high in shade trees.
The prefered habitat of Orioles is in open woodlands of deciduous trees near parks, gardens, and in suburban settings.
In this tightly woven hanging nest, the female lays 3 to 6 pale blue with dark marks eggs.
Incubation of the eggs last 12 to 14 days and the young birds will leave the nest in 12 to 14 days after hatching.
While Orioles will return to the same territory, it is unlikely that they will use the same nest.
Feeding Habits
The Baltimore Oriole diet consist of insects, fruits, and flower nectar. You can attract this bird to your backyard by setting out orange halves or grape jelly on a Fruit Feeder in early spring, or by using a sugar water mixture. 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. Boil sugar water mixture and let cool.
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