Baltimore Oriole    Icterus galbula

Migratory Status: Neotropical migrant

PIF Population Estimate: 6 000 000

Percent of western hemisphere population breeding in boreal forest: <25%

PIF Maximum Detection Distance (m) : 125

Canadian BBS Population trend: -1.7 (-2.4 to -0.9)

Life History

Historically, the beautiful black and orange Baltimore Oriole was restricted to wooded riparian areas, and only the adventurous were likely to enjoy the melodic “here, here, come right here, dear” song of this distinctive bird. The transformation of the southern boreal forest from dense contiguous forests with European settlement has made the Baltimore Oriole one of the most recognizable songbirds throughout its range. It is now a fairly common songbird of urban parks and open areas with woodlots and scattered trees.

Males in breeding plumage are black with a bright orange rump and shoulder, orange-yellow undersides, white wing-bar, and orange on the tips and edges of their tail feathers. Males experience delayed plumage maturation (i.e., they do not achieve full adult plumage until the fall of their second year), although they are still able to breed during their first year. Females do not experience this and are similar in appearance to males but are brownish-olive in colour instead of black, and have two white wing-bars instead of one.

This species breeds across North America, preferring open deciduous forests and riparian areas. In Canada, its breeding range extends from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains to Nova Scotia and southward into the United States to Texas, Louisiana, and Georgia. During the non-breeding season, its range includes Florida, coastal California, the Caribbean, as well as the southern half of Mexico through to South America. On its wintering grounds, the Baltimore Oriole uses humid forests and second-growth habitats, as well as gardens and shade grown coffee and cacao plantations, for foraging and roosting.

During the breeding season, the Baltimore Oriole eats fruits and a variety of invertebrates, and can be found foraging on the ground as well as high up in the canopy of a tree. When tent caterpillars (Malacosoma sp.) are abundant, the Baltimore Oriole becomes an important predator, helping to keep outbreaks of these pest species in control. During the winter, the Baltimore Oriole adds nectar to its diet, and is commonly found feeding in mixed species flocks, but will become defensive at sites with high nectar sources.

Reference(s)

Rising, J. D., and N. J. Flood. 1998. Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula), The Birds of North America Online, . A. Poole, Ed. Ithaca: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology; Retrieved from The Birds of North America Online database: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/384