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Field
Guide IDs: BREEDING:
Open and riparian
woodland, decid forest edge, open areas with
scattered trees, around human habitation. 1
brood. DISPLAYS:
Courting male rises
to full height, bows low to female with tail spread
and wings slightly raised; alternates between these
two postures. NEST:
Rarely in conif
tree, attached at rim or secured at sides to
drooping branch; woven of plant fiber strips, lined
with fine grass, plant down, hair. Built in 4.5-15
days. EGGS:
Pale grayish- to
bluish-white, marked with dark colors. 0.9" (23
mm). DIET:
Includes few
spiders, snails; some buds in spring. CONSERVATION:
Winters from c
Mexico s to n e S.A., Greater Antilles;
increasingly remains in e U.S. and CA due to
feeders. Uncommon cowbird host; may elect cowbird
eggs. NOTES:
Formerly called
Northern Oriole, now considered as two species,
Baltimore and Bullock's Orioles. Loosely colonial
in riparian woodland as a consequence of nest site
scarcity. Female (Bullock's) sings early in nesting
season. Males sexually mature at 1 year but acquire
adult plumage in year 2. Postbreeding flocks of
juveniles and females; adult males solitary.
Solitary to slightly gregarious in winter in groups
of up to 4. ESSAYS: Great
Plains Hybrids;
Decline
of Eastern
Songbirds;
Feeding
Birds;
Taxonomy
and Nomenclature REFERENCES:
Flood, 1984;
Pleasants, 1979; Sealy, 1980. |
