
Adult male Bullock's is unmistakable and flashy; entirely bright orange below and mostly black above. A broad white patch on the wing coverts stands out against mostly black wings and back. The mostly orange face combined with a black crown, throat and line through the eye creates a head pattern that is unique among North American orioles. Immature males have gray crown, a streaked back and are yellow rather than orange below; the lower abdomen is gray like that of a female. Females show more gray below than any other oriole. The yellow-orange is restricted to the head, upper breast and tail, brightest on the face. They lack any black on the head.
Length: 22 (cm) Wingspan: 30 (cm)
Voice:
Loud, jerky series of whistled phrases; harsh chattering.
Habitat:
Deciduous woodlands, riparian areas, suburban parks, especially with tall trees.
Behavior:
Nest is a hanging sock woven of fine materials. Forages at all levels of canopy, especially near water. Both sexes sing.
Feeding:
Eats insects, berries, and other fruit. Sometimes visits hummingbird feeders to drink sugar water.
Field Notes
As I would imagine is probably true for Baltimore and some other orioles, Bullock's Orioles nesting near well-peopled lakes and streams routinely incorporate fishing line into their nests. After the organic materials in the nest have rotted or weathered away--and perhaps long after the bird that built the nest has died--the gaunt monofilament superstructure of such nests persists, conspicuous in the colder months in the bare cottonwoods, poplars, and other riparian trees in which they were built.
Citation: Personal Experience. I observe this regularly, highly confident.
Expanded Life History
Feed Ecology And Diet | Contribute Content |
Nesting Habits | Contribute Content |
Migration Status | Contribute Content |
Conservation Status | Contribute Content |
Local Sites to Spot | Contribute Content |
Abundance Status | Contribute Content |
Adult Male Description | Contribute Content |
Adult Female Description | Contribute Content |
ITIS Taxonomic Number | Contribute Content |
Sonogram | Contribute Content |
Courtship | Contribute Content |
Reproductive Characteristics | Contribute Content |
Relationship to Humans | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Size & Shape | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Color & Pattern | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Habitat | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Behavior | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Wingspan | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Weight | Contribute Content |
Breeding | Contribute Content |
Cool Facts | Contribute Content |
Local Knowledge | Contribute Content |
Post a Question
Sightings
Date | Submitted By | Count |
---|---|---|
07/12/16 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
06/21/16 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
06/07/16 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
05/24/16 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
05/16/14 | Julia Richert, OR | 1 |
05/23/14 | Dave Irons, OR | 1 |
05/23/14 | Dave Irons, OR | 2 |
05/23/14 | Dave Irons, OR | 1 |
05/23/14 | Dave Irons, OR | 1 |
05/23/14 | Dave Irons, OR | 8 |
05/23/14 | Dave Irons, OR | 4 |
06/28/13 | Nina Bohn | # |
06/29/13 | Dave Irons, OR | # |
06/22/13 | Dave Irons, OR | # |
06/08/13 | Karen Chaivoe | # |
Recent Activity
Activity | Date & Time |
---|---|
Steven Mauvais added Bullock's Oriole to their Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge smart list | 1/10/2012 at 2:36PM |
Dan Mitchell added Bullock's Oriole to their Hat Rock State Park, Umatilla, Oregon smart list | 9/25/2011 at 10:08AM |
David Fix added a note to Bullock's Oriole Notes | 7/28/2011 at 3:05PM |