Orioles are beautiful birds well known for their bright coloration. There are many different oriole species that live in North America and seven of them are regular visitors to Texas. Here is everything you need to know about these seven species.
Altamira Oriole
Identification
Altamira Orioles are extremely bright orange to the degree that they almost appear to be glowing. They have a black mask as well as a black chin. and black tail. The wings of the Altamira Oriole are black with a white wing bar, white edging, and an orange mark on the shoulder.
Range
Altamira Orioles can be found year round in Eastern Mexico, parts of Southern Mexico, and Central America. Their range does however, barely make it into the United States in the most southern portion of Texas..
Diet and Foraging Habits
Altamira Orioles feed on Insects, fruits, and nectar. They will search for insects both high and low in trees and will visit feeding stations where they consume fresh fruit such as oranges.
Where to Find This Bird
Altamira Orioles reside year round in the Rio Grande Valley, essentially the only place in the United States to see this species in the wild. Look for these colorful birds in dry forests, riparian areas, and suburbs near woods. As mentioned, they will come to feeding stations if their desired foods are available.
Audubon’s Oriole
Identification
Unlike many other oriole species, the Audubon’s Oriole is bright yellow as opposed to orange. They have a black head with the black extending into the upper chest as well. They have black wings and a black tail along with white edging on the wings.
Range
Audubon’s Orioles can be found year round in parts of Mexico such as the Southwestern and Eastern portions of the country. In the United States, this species naturally occurs in Southern Texas.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Audubon’s Orioles mostly feed on insects and fruit. They will visit orchards and eat fruit such as apples and pitted fruits like plums. Additionally, these birds also eat nectar from time to time. At bird feeders, Audubon’s Orioles are fond of sunflower seeds.
Where to Find This Bird
In the United States, Audubon’s Orioles can only be found in Southern Texas in areas with brush. They often times live in edge habitat and dry forests. Audubon’s Orioles will visit bird feeders in backyards with enough vegetation to make them feel comfortable.
Baltimore Oriole
Identification
Male Baltimore Orioles have a bright orange chest, underside, tail, and patch on the shoulder. They have black wings with white wing bars and a black hood extending slightly into the upper chest. Females are slightly less colorful with a yellowish orange body and gray wings with white wing bars.
Range
Baltimore Orioles spend the winter in Northern South America, Central America, Southern Mexico and much of Florida. In spring they migrate north and summer throughout the Eastern United States and Southeastern Canada.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Baltimore Orioles eat a variety of foods and their diet varies seasonally. In spring and fall they readily feed on fruit and nectar but during summer they feed primarily on protein rich food items such as insects and other invertebrates. Baltimore Orioles are known to come to bird feeders if jelly or orange slices are placed out and may even come to hummingbird feeders.
It’s worth noting that there is debate over whether or not jelly is good for birds due to the high sugar content.
Where to Find This Bird
Look for Baltimore Orioles high up in deciduous trees. They prefer more open areas such as edge habitat and small groves of trees to thick forests. Also keep an eye out for orioles at bird feeding stations. To attract them, orange slices are often enough to entice them in.
Bullock’s Oriole
Identification
Adult Male Bullock’s Orioles are a yellowish orange with black markings under the bill to the chin, a black stripe through the eye, and a black stripe on the head. They have black wings with a large white patch on them and black on the tail. Females have orange on the head, chest, and tail with gray wings and a light underside.
Range
Bullock’s Orioles winter throughout most of Mexico, moving north during migration. In summer, this specie scan be found throughout the western half of the United States from Montana, and Colorado, all the way to California and Washington. Bullock’s Orioles can also be found in Southwestern Canada.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Bullock’s Orioles feed on Insects, spiders, nectar, and fruit. They readily forage for insects on trees such as caterpillars and other invertebrates. They have also been known to pierce fruits and flowers with their bills and then drink the juice and nectar that spill out.
Where to Find This Bird
Bullock’s Orioles can be found in thin woodlands near open areas as well as riparian habitats. They often live and nest in tall trees such as cottonwoods.This species is generally found in the more arid parts of the Western United States.
Hooded Oriole
Identification
Adult male Hooded Orioles are a bright yellowish orange color with black wings, a black tail, and a black patch by their face extending from the base of the bill and eye down to the chin. This species has white on the edges of some of their wing feathers as well as a white wing bar near the shoulder. Females are pale yellow with gray wings and white wing bars.
Range
Hooded Orioles can be found year round in some parts of Mexico including the Eastern side as well as Baja California. Their winter range includes the Western side of Mexico. In spring, this species expands north ending up in many of the Southwestern states including Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California among others.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Hooded Orioles feed on fruit, nectar, insects, and other invertebrates. They will make appearances to feeding stations with fruit as well as hummingbird feeders.
Where to Find This Bird
Hooded Orioles live in dry habitats with few trees. Some trees to keep an eye out that this species often lives near are cottonwoods, palms, and sycamores. While Hooded Orioles can be found in a handful of southern states, California and Texas are two of the places they are most often reported.
Orchard Oriole
Identification
Adult male Orchard Orioles are a deep burnt orange color with a black head, back, wings, and tail. They have white edging on some of their wing feathers. Female Orchard Orioles are yellow with dark gray wings and look vastly different than the adult males.
Range
Orchard Orioles winter in Northern South America, Central America, and Southern Mexico. In spring, they start their migration north with their range expanding into much of the Eastern United States and a small portion of South-central Canada. Some part of the population summers in North-central Mexico.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Orchard Orioles eat many different types of foods including insects, fruit, and nectar. They have been known to dip their heads into flowers, feed at hummingbird feeders, and even priece certain types of flowers to get a meal.
Where to Find This Bird
Orchard Orioles are at home in open areas such as oak savannas, forest edges, and woodlands near prairies. They typically reside in the tree tops where it is sometimes easier to hear them than it is to see them. Listen for this species’ melodic song that sounds somewhat similar to an American Robin or Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Scott’s Oriole
Identification
Male Scott’s Orioles are bright yellow with a black head, chest, back, wings, and tail. They have white wing bars and yellow on the shoulder area of the wing. Females are a duller shade of yellow with dull gray wings and white wing bars.
Range
Scott’s Orioles have a year-round range in Central Mexico and Baja California. In summer they move north into Northern Mexico and the Southwestern United States in states like Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona among others.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Scott’s Orioles are known to forage in all different parts of their habitat including the tops of palms or even on the ground. In addition to insects, this species will also feed on fruits and nectar from flowers.
Where to Find This Bird
Scott’s Orioles can be found in arid and mountanous habitats. They prefer areas with taller trees such as palms and Joshua trees. Look for the bright yellow of the males and listen for their frequently made calls.
Summary
Orioles are bright and exciting birds to see while out birding or while watching your bird feeder. Knowing which species to expect in your region can be incredibly useful in identifying these charismatic birds. Hopefully, this article has helped to answer some of your questions about the orioles of Texas.
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