# Bullock's Oriole

*Icterus bullockii*

They weave pendulous, basket-like nests from hair and plant fibers that are strong enough to withstand high winds at the ends of branches.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Icteridae › Icterus
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** decreasing
- **Biome:** forest
- **Habitat:** Open woodlands, riparian corridors, parklands, and suburban orchards.
- **Diet:** Caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, berries, and nectar.
- **Range:** Western United States, Western Canada, Mexico, Guatemala
- **Size:** 17-19 cm long; 30-40 grams
- **Lifespan:** 6-9 years
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Habitat loss in riparian zones, pesticide use reducing insect prey, and collisions with structures during migration.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless. Observe from a distance with binoculars to avoid disturbing nesting pairs. If you find a grounded fledgling, leave it alone unless it is visibly injured; parents are usually nearby.

## About

The Bullock's oriole ( Icterus bullockii ) is a small New World blackbird. At one time, this species and the Baltimore oriole were considered to be a single species, the northern oriole . This bird was named after William Bullock, an English amateur naturalist.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/4d606623-6a30-409c-b553-b2cf4a56478b
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/9357
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icterus bullockii
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/203420079/medium.jpg (Michael Eisen, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.