Class Aves
Order Songbirds
Family Blackbirds and Orioles
Genus Icterus

North American field guide

Orchard Oriole

Icterus spurius

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

18 cm (7") Common but local. Southeastern Canada, central and eastern United States. Orchards, suburban shade trees, parks and gardens, scattered trees along waterways.

The smallest oriole.

Male: black head, throat, upper breast, upper back and tail. Lower back and belly are brick red or chestnut.

Female: unstreaked olive-green upperparts. Yellow underparts. Two white wing bars.

Immature Male: unstreaked olive-green back. Well defined black bib. Greenish-yellow lower breast and belly.

Song: rapid medley of flute-like notes, call is a distinctive low "chuck".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Larry Bond

Credit: Larry Bond

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Orchard Oriole Portrait

Credit: Larry Bond

Female Orchard Oriole feeding young!

Credit: Mike McDowell

Where it lives

Distribution map

Source legend · original intervals

Loading the rebuilt map…

Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Bird Advisor Identification rules 3 variants 14 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Orchard Oriole (Male)

6 rules

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 5

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:1009-orchard-oriole-male:1:1 Source: 1009 Orchard Oriole (Male), row 1

Rule 2 15 criteria confidence 1

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:1009-orchard-oriole-male:2:1 Source: 1009 Orchard Oriole (Male), row 2

Rule 3 7 criteria confidence 1

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
Was the bird seen best or only on the ground ?: No
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?: Feeding at flowers
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Identify from a Unique Behaviour
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat · Freshwater marsh or wetland · Freshwater shoreline · Saltwater marsh or wetland · Flat saltwater shore; beach · Rocky saltwater shore; cliff · Only or mostly in flight over freshwater · Only or mostly in flight over land
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States

result:1009-orchard-oriole-male:3:1 Source: 1009 Orchard Oriole (Male), row 3

Rule 4 7 criteria confidence 5

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
Was the bird seen best or only on the ground ?: No
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?: Feeding at flowers
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Identify from a Unique Behaviour
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat · Freshwater marsh or wetland · Freshwater shoreline · Saltwater marsh or wetland · Flat saltwater shore; beach · Rocky saltwater shore; cliff · Only or mostly in flight over freshwater · Only or mostly in flight over land
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:1009-orchard-oriole-male:4:1 Source: 1009 Orchard Oriole (Male), row 4

Rule 5 7 criteria confidence 1

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
Was the bird seen best or only on the ground ?: No
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?: Feeding at flowers
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Identify from a Unique Behaviour
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat · Freshwater marsh or wetland · Freshwater shoreline · Saltwater marsh or wetland · Flat saltwater shore; beach · Rocky saltwater shore; cliff · Only or mostly in flight over freshwater · Only or mostly in flight over land
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:1009-orchard-oriole-male:5:1 Source: 1009 Orchard Oriole (Male), row 5

Rule 6 7 criteria confidence 1

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
Was the bird seen best or only on the ground ?: No
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?: Feeding at flowers
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Identify from a Unique Behaviour
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat · Freshwater marsh or wetland · Freshwater shoreline · Saltwater marsh or wetland · Flat saltwater shore; beach · Rocky saltwater shore; cliff · Only or mostly in flight over freshwater · Only or mostly in flight over land
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northwestern Canada or United States

result:1009-orchard-oriole-male:6:1 Source: 1009 Orchard Oriole (Male), row 6

Orchard Oriole (Female)

6 rules

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 1

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?: Poking or probing pine cones · Feeding at flowers · Foraging by hanging upside down · Foraging rapidly · Foraging slowly and deliberately · Chasing and harassing other birds in flight
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:1010-orchard-oriole-female:1:1 Source: 1010 Orchard Oriole (Female), row 1

Rule 2 14 criteria confidence 5

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?: Poking or probing pine cones · Feeding at flowers · Foraging by hanging upside down · Foraging rapidly · Foraging slowly and deliberately · Chasing and harassing other birds in flight
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:1010-orchard-oriole-female:2:1 Source: 1010 Orchard Oriole (Female), row 2

Rule 3 7 criteria confidence 1

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
Was the bird seen best or only on the ground ?: No
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?: Feeding at flowers
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Identify from a Unique Behaviour
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat · Freshwater marsh or wetland · Freshwater shoreline · Saltwater marsh or wetland · Flat saltwater shore; beach · Rocky saltwater shore; cliff · Only or mostly in flight over freshwater · Only or mostly in flight over land
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States

result:1010-orchard-oriole-female:3:1 Source: 1010 Orchard Oriole (Female), row 3

Rule 4 7 criteria confidence 5

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
Was the bird seen best or only on the ground ?: No
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?: Feeding at flowers
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Identify from a Unique Behaviour
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat · Freshwater marsh or wetland · Freshwater shoreline · Saltwater marsh or wetland · Flat saltwater shore; beach · Rocky saltwater shore; cliff · Only or mostly in flight over freshwater · Only or mostly in flight over land
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:1010-orchard-oriole-female:4:1 Source: 1010 Orchard Oriole (Female), row 4

Rule 5 7 criteria confidence 1

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
Was the bird seen best or only on the ground ?: No
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?: Feeding at flowers
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Identify from a Unique Behaviour
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat · Freshwater marsh or wetland · Freshwater shoreline · Saltwater marsh or wetland · Flat saltwater shore; beach · Rocky saltwater shore; cliff · Only or mostly in flight over freshwater · Only or mostly in flight over land
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:1010-orchard-oriole-female:5:1 Source: 1010 Orchard Oriole (Female), row 5

Rule 6 7 criteria confidence 1

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
Was the bird seen best or only on the ground ?: No
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?: Feeding at flowers
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Identify from a Unique Behaviour
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat · Freshwater marsh or wetland · Freshwater shoreline · Saltwater marsh or wetland · Flat saltwater shore; beach · Rocky saltwater shore; cliff · Only or mostly in flight over freshwater · Only or mostly in flight over land
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northwestern Canada or United States

result:1010-orchard-oriole-female:6:1 Source: 1010 Orchard Oriole (Female), row 6

Orchard Oriole (Immature Male)

2 rules

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 1

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?: Poking or probing pine cones · Feeding at flowers · Foraging by hanging upside down · Foraging rapidly · Foraging slowly and deliberately · Chasing and harassing other birds in flight
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:1011-orchard-oriole-immature-male:1:1 Source: 1011 Orchard Oriole (Immature Male), row 1

Rule 2 14 criteria confidence 5

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?: Poking or probing pine cones · Feeding at flowers · Foraging by hanging upside down · Foraging rapidly · Foraging slowly and deliberately · Chasing and harassing other birds in flight
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:1011-orchard-oriole-immature-male:2:1 Source: 1011 Orchard Oriole (Immature Male), row 2