# Orchard Oriole (*Icterus spurius*) The Orchard Oriole is a bright yellow bird with a black head and wings. They love to sing and can often be found in orchards and gardens, making them a cheerful sight in the trees. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 33 - **Habitat:** Orchards and gardens - **Also known as:** Black-hooded Oriole ![Orchard Oriole](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Orchard_Oriole_by_Dan_Pancamo_1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Dan Pancamo, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orchard_Oriole_by_Dan_Pancamo_1.jpg) ## Appearance The Orchard Oriole has a sleek body with a pointed bill. Males are striking with rich chestnut underparts and a black head and back. Females are yellowish-olive with darker wings, offering good camouflage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Icteridae - **Genus:** Icterus ## Interesting facts - Baby orioles grow so fast, they leave the nest in only two weeks! - Imagine flying thousands of kilometers every year, just for winter! - Males have two different songs: one for mates, one for territory! - Sometimes, females weave spiderwebs into their nests to make them super strong! ## Special abilities - **Basket Weaver:** Orchard Oriole can craft intricate, hanging cup-shaped nests because of its weaving skill, providing a safe home for chicks. - **Nectar Sipper:** Orchard Oriole has a pointed bill that helps it drink nectar from flowers, giving it energy for singing and flying. - **Bug Zapper:** Orchard Oriole can snatch flying insects right out of the air because of its agile flight, keeping garden pests in check. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 15-18 cm - **Wingspan:** 25-30 cm - **Weight:** 0.015-0.028 kg - **Lifespan:** 4-7 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-5 - **Incubation:** 11-14 days - **Migration Distance:** 3000 km ## Diet & Feeding A fruit and insect lover, this bird enjoys a varied diet! - **Age differences:** Young are fed mostly protein (insects) for rapid growth. - **Primary Foods:** Caterpillars, Grasshoppers, Beetles, Berries, Nectar, Small fruits - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Cooper's Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cooper-s-hawk) (*Accipiter cooperii*) — a common avian predator of songbirds. - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Cat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-cat) (*Felis catus*) — an introduced predator, especially in suburban areas. - **Eats:** [Black Cherry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-cherry) (*Prunus serotina*) — cherries are a favorite fruit, providing vital energy. - **Shelter:** [Apple Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/apple-tree) (*Malus domestica*) — nests are often woven into the branches of apple trees. - **Eats:** Eastern Tent Caterpillar (*Malacosoma americanum*) — caterpillars are a vital protein source for adults and chicks. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Orchard Oriole? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Orchard Oriole? 15-18 cm ### What is Orchard Oriole's wingspan? 25-30 cm ### How much does Orchard Oriole weigh? 0.015-0.028 kg ### How long does Orchard Oriole live? 4-7 years ### How fast can Orchard Oriole move? 60 km/h ### What does Orchard Oriole eat? A fruit and insect lover, this bird enjoys a varied diet! ### Where is Orchard Oriole usually found? Orchards and gardens ## Where to spot - [Ames Nowell State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ames-nowell-state-park) — Massachusetts, US · State Park - [Brooklyn Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brooklyn-botanic-garden) — New York, US · Botanical Garden - [Chatham Arch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chatham-arch) — Indiana, US · Neighborhood - [Cleveland Cultural Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cleveland-cultural-gardens) — Ohio, US · Park - [Concord](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/concord) — Tennessee, US · Neighborhood - [Elk Neck State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/elk-neck-state-forest) — Maryland, US · Forest [View all places to see Orchard Oriole](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/orchard-oriole) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Orchard Oriole: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/orchard-oriole)