Library #22 · C Color · Wave 2

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula · Icteridae

Flame-orange male weaves a hanging sock-like nest.

At a glance

Size: 6.7–7.5 in
Wingspan: 9.1–11.8 in
Habitat: Open woods, shade trees, orchards
Diet: Insects, fruit, nectar; grape jelly and oranges at feeders

Range: Breeds in the East; winters in the tropics

Nesting: Pouch nest of plant fibers hanging 6–30+ ft up.

Coloring pose idea: At hanging pouch nest / with orange half

Hear this bird

General call / song: Clear flute-like whistles; chatter calls.

Mating / display: Male’s rich whistled song from treetops after spring arrival.

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Play calls on All About Birds Species overview Audubon field guide

How to know it

Male: black head/back, brilliant orange underparts and shoulder.
Female/young: yellowish-orange with duskier wings.
Pointed bill; rich whistled song.

Behavior

Weaves a hanging nest at the tip of a slender branch.
Attracted to oranges and grape jelly in spring.
Bullock’s Oriole replaces it in much of the West.

Fun facts

Named for the heraldic colors of Lord Baltimore.
Nest weaving can take a week of careful work by the female.
Maryland’s state bird.

Companion page for the Birds Coloring Calendar series by R. J. D. B. Fact summaries are original educational text or short paraphrases with source links. Call playback via link to All About Birds / Cornell Lab. Re-test QR codes on a phone before final print. Not affiliated with Cornell Lab or Audubon.