The Baltimore Oriole

The male Baltimore Oriole a medium size bird measuring 7 to 8 ½ inches in length. This blackbird has a black head, back, wings, and tail with a bright orange breast and rump. Its shoulder patches are bright orange as well.

The female Baltimore Orioles are olive-brown in color with a dull yellow-orange breast and belly, and two dull white wing bars. Both the male and the female have a pointed, silvery bill. The male's not-breeding plumage is similar to that of the female.

The Baltimore Oriole prefers open woods. They can be found in orchards as well as gardens and parks with shade trees. They can be found across the Eastern United States and Canada. This migratory bird winters in Florida, the Gulf Coast and Central and South America.

Baltimore Oriole Photographic Poster Print by George Grall

Baltimore Oriole Giclee Poster Print by John James Audubon

The Baltimore Oriole prefer to breed and build their nests in thickets along the edges of deciduous and mixed woodlands throughout the eastern coast. The range overlaps the Bullock's Orioles of the Midwest. The two species have intermingled in some areas forming a fertile hybrid. The hybrid species is usually referred to as the Northern Orioles.

The nest is built predominantly by the female. It a tightly woven pouch made of twigs, bark fibers, string, grass and other materials. The deep, gourd shaped pouch is usually attached to the end of a branch and hanging beneath it. The nest can be a low-lying shrub or in the upper branches of a tree.

The brood consists of 3 to 5 smooth, glossy eggs. The color can range from gray to bluish-white. The young are fed by both parents and usually leave the nest within two weeks of hatching.

Baltimore Orioles eat caterpillars and other insects, blossoms, fruit and berries. They can be drawn to yards and gardens with nectar feeder similar to that of a hummingbird, but with a larger perch and painted orange rather than red. Fruit, jellies, peanut butter, and suet will attract them as well.

The Baltimore Oriole is a cheerful songbird. The male song consists of a loud fluty whistle. The hew-li, hew-li, hew-li usually gives his position away making it easier to spot.

Listen to the song of the Baltimore Oriole: Sound Byte: Baltimore Oriole, National Park Service

Common Birds and Their Songs (Book and Audio CD)

This book-audio package provides a unique introduction to fifty of the most familiar birds of North America and the songs they sing. Common Birds and Their Songs will be valuable to anyone interested in birds, from beginner to expert. It's the perfect gift for any birder - or anyone with a bird feeder.