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Bird Identification

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Orchard Oriole (female shown)

Icterus spurius L 7 ¼" (18 cm)

Illustration by Julie Zickefoose.

Listen to an orchard oriole.

Almost everything about the orchard oriole is small and compact—it has a short straight bill, at least by oriole standards, and a rather short and straight tail. The adult male orchard oriole is chestnut brown overall, with a black hood. Females are fairly plain yellow with whitish wing bars.

Orchard orioles range over much of the United States and southern Canada from the Great Plains east to the Atlantic Ocean. They are locally common in suburban shade trees and orchards.

Their song is a lively warbling with a wide pitch range, ending in a distinctive, ringing pli titi zheeeer. The common call of the male is a clear whistled tweeo. Calls also include a low, soft chut.

This sound file requires RealPlayer. Bird song courtesy of Lang Elliott, NatureSound Studio.

Wading Birds

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