Baltimore oriole
Baltimore oriole | |
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Adult male | |
Male Baltimore oriole singing | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Icteridae |
Genus: | Icterus |
Species: | I. galbula
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Binomial name | |
Icterus galbula | |
Range of I. galbula Breeding range Wintering range Note: range in Venezuela, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and the rest of the Caribbean not shown
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Synonyms | |
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The Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula) is a small
The Baltimore oriole is the state bird of Maryland, and the namesake and mascot for the Baltimore Orioles baseball team.
Taxonomy
The Baltimore oriole was one of the many bird species originally described by Carl Linnaeus in the 1758 10th edition of his Systema Naturae, where it was given the binomial name of Coracias galbula.[3]
Like all
Description
This medium-sized passerine measures 17–22 cm (6.7–8.7 in) in length and spans 23–32 cm (9.1–12.6 in) across the wings. Their build is typical of icterids, as they have a sturdy body, a longish tail, fairly long legs and a thick, pointed bill. The body weight averages 33.8 g (1.19 oz), with a range of weights from 22.3 to 42 g (0.79 to 1.48 oz).[6] The male oriole is slightly larger than the female, although the size dimorphism is minimal by icterid standards.[7][8][9] Adults always have white bars on the wings.
The adult male is orange on the underparts, shoulder patch, and rump, with some birds appearing a very deep flaming orange and others appearing yellowish orange. All of the rest of the male's plumage is black. The adult female is yellow brown on the upper parts with darker wings, and dull orange yellow on the breast and belly. The juvenile oriole is similar looking to the female, with males taking until the fall of their second year to reach adult plumage.
Distribution and habitat
Baltimore orioles live in the
Baltimore orioles are often found high up in large, leafy deciduous trees, but do not generally reside in deep forests. The species has been found in summer and migration in open woodland, forest edge, and partially wooded wetlands or stands of trees along rivers. They are very adaptable and can breed in a variety of secondary habitats. In recent times, they are often found in orchards, farmland, urban parks and suburban landscapes as long as they retain woodlots. In Mexico, they winter in flowering canopy trees, often over shade coffee plantations.[10]
From 1966 to 2015, the Baltimore oriole experienced a greater than 1.5% annual population decrease throughout the northern and eastern parts of its breeding range.[11] Among other causes Dutch elm disease destroyed a meaningful amount of their favorite nesting locations: elm trees.[12]
Behavior
Song and calls
The Baltimore orioles' song is a short set of recognizable, sweet whistles that sound like "tyew, pyeer, peededoo, and "teer." Calls include "veeer," which is an unusual nasal sound, a low chatter call, and two high calls which sound like "tyew-li and kleek."[13]
The male Baltimore oriole song is a clear whistle with a vibrant tone that flows and includes a brief sequence of notes that are paired and repeated 2-7 times, lasting 1-2 seconds. Sometimes during breeding season mature male orioles will make a "flutter-drum sound" to each other while in flight by making noise as they move their wings. Male orioles sing to proclaim and protect territory. The female Baltimore oriole also sings to communicate and while protecting her nest she gives a distinctive call which sounds like a fierce screech. Both male and female orioles make specific warning calls that sound like inharmonious chatter during combative confrontations. If there are other species of orioles in the area that hear the chatter, they will respond to alert calls and try to help defend the territory.[14]
Breeding
Baltimore orioles are basically solitary outside their mating season. The species is generally considered monogamous, although evidence suggests that extra-pair copulation is relatively common. In the spring, males establish a territory and then display to females by singing and chattering while hopping from perch to perch in front of them. Males also give a bow display, bowing with wings lowered and tail fanned. Depending on their receptiveness, the females may ignore these displays or sing and give calls or a wing-quiver display in response. The wing-quiver display involves leaning forward, often with the tail partly fanned, and fluttering or quivering slightly lowered wings.[10]
The Baltimore oriole's nest is built by the female. It is a tightly woven, bundle-like pouch located on the end of a branch, consisting of any fine plant or animal materials available, hanging down on the underside.
Mortality
Predation of adults is a common source of mortality, typically also occurring with eggs, nestlings, and fledglings. Common predators at Baltimore oriole nests can include
The oldest recorded Baltimore oriole lived to 11 years and 7 months in the wild. They have been recorded living up to 14 years in captivity.[10]
Feeding
Baltimore orioles forage in trees and shrubs, also making short flights to catch insects.[18] They acrobatically clamber, hover, and hang among foliage as they comb high branches. They mainly eat insects, berries, and nectar, and are often seen sipping at hummingbird feeders. Their favored prey is perhaps the forest tent caterpillar moth, which they typically eat in their larval stage, and can be a nuisance species if not naturally regulated by predation. The larvae caterpillar is beaten against a branch until their protective hairs are skinned off before being eaten. They will also consume beetles, grasshoppers, wasps, bugs, and spiders.[12] Baltimore orioles' consumption of forest tent caterpillars at the stage of development when they do the most damage to forest trees and plants, plays an important role in the ecosystem.[19]
Unlike
See also
References
- . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ Reid, Bruce (March 7, 1995). "Oriole Name Migrates to Baltimore". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015.
- ^ Linnaeus, Carl (1758). Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata (in Latin). Holmiae (Stockholm, Sweden): Laurentius Salvius. p. 108.
- ^ "Oriole". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
- ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- ISBN 978-0-8493-4258-5.
- ^ Baltimore Oriole, Life History, All About Birds – Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Allaboutbirds.org. Retrieved on 2012-08-23.
- ^ ADW: Icterus galbula: INFORMATION. Animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu. Retrieved on 2012-08-23.
- ^ Baltimore Orioles, Baltimore Oriole Pictures, Baltimore Oriole Facts – National Geographic. Animals.nationalgeographic.com. Retrieved on 2012-08-23.
- ^ Birds of North America, No. 384: 1–32.
- ^ "Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula BBS Trend Map, 1966 - 2015". USGS. U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2020-12-16.
- ^ a b "Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula". Audubon Bird Guide, North American Birds. 13 November 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
- ISBN 978-1-4027-3874-6.
- ^ "Baltimore Oriole Sounds, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology". www.allaboutbirds.org. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ISBN 9781954228146.
- ^ Bent, A. C. 1958. Life histories of North American blackbirds, orioles, tanagers, and allies. U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 211.
- ^ Schaefer, V. H. 1976. Geographic variation in the placement and structure of oriole nests. Condor 78:1976.
- ^ "Baltimore Oriole | Audubon Field Guide". Audubon. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
- S2CID 85944892.
- .
- ^ Harrison, G.H. (2001). "A Spring and Summer Favorite: Baltimore Oriole". Birder's World. 15 (3): 44.
External links
- Baltimore oriole – Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Baltimore oriole - Icterus galbula – USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
- Stamps[usurped] at bird-stamps.org
- "Baltimore oriole media". Internet Bird Collection.
- Baltimore oriole photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
- "Field Identification of Female and Immature Bullock's and Baltimore" - Birding 1998, vol. 30 (4): 282-295