Orchard Oriole

by Shirl Abrahamson
(Jacksonville NC)

This pretty orchard oriole is a frequent visitor!


Comment

As your pictures attests, Orchard Orioles love fruit. If you find it's nest you will see it's excellent weaving. It is not a deep, swinging pouch, like the Baltimore Oriole's, but a well-rounded cup, more like a vireo's, formed of grasses of nearly even length and width, cut green and woven with skill and precision. Look for it near the end of a limb, ten to twenty feet up. It is by no means easily seen when the green, grassy cup matches the color of the leaves.

This first year male will take two, or possibly three years to attain his fine clothes of orange and black. By that time his song is rich, sweet and strong.

Th female in grayish olive green, is more yellowish underneath, so that you may scarcely notice her as she glides among the trees.

Happy Birding and thanks for the great photos.
Susan