Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
These birds have a famous 'sweet tooth' and are frequently attracted to backyard feeders offering orange halves or grape jelly.
- Scientific name
- Icterus galbula
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Icteridae › Icterus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Open deciduous woodlands, forest edges, orchards, and suburban parks with tall trees.
- Diet
- Omnivorous: primarily caterpillars, beetles, and other insects, supplemented by nectar and dark-colored fruits like berries.
- Range
- Eastern North America, Central America, Northern South America
- Size
- 17-22 cm length; 30-40g mass
- Lifespan
- 11-12 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss due to deforestation, pesticide use reducing food sources, and collisions with glass windows.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and shy. Observe from a distance with binoculars to enjoy their vibrant plumage. Do not disturb their hanging nests. If a fledgling is found on the ground, leave it be as parents are usually nearby; if injured, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator.
The Baltimore oriole ( Icterus galbula ) is a small icterid blackbird common in eastern North America as a migratory breeding bird. It received its name from the resemblance of the male's colors to those on the coat-of-arms of Lord Baltimore. Observations of interbreeding between the Baltimore oriole and the western Bullock's oriole, Icterus bullockii , led to both being classified as a single species, called the northern oriole, from 1973 to 1995. Research by James Rising, a professor...
Photo: Chrissy McClarren and Andy Reago, CC0, via iNaturalist
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