Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii), male
Bullock's Oriole, Male

Bullock's Oriole

Icterus bullockii

The Bullock's oriole (Icterus bullockii) is a small, vibrant member of the New World blackbird family, Icteridae. Named in honor of the English amateur naturalist William Bullock, this species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males donning a more striking orange and black plumage compared to the more subdued hues of the females. Adult males are slightly larger and heavier than their female counterparts.

Identification Tips

Adult males are resplendent with a black crown and eye-line, contrasting sharply with their orange face and underparts. Their wings are black with a distinctive white wing bar, and their long, square tails feature a characteristic "T" shape with orange-tipped outer feathers. Females, on the other hand, have gray-brown upperparts and a duller yellow breast, with some older individuals displaying a dark throat patch. Juveniles resemble females but have darker wings and a pink or whitish bill.

Habitat

Bullock's orioles are fond of habitat edges, particularly riparian corridors, open deciduous woodlands, and scrub forests. They show a preference for areas abundant with cottonwood, pecan, and willow trees, especially when near water sources.

Distribution

Native to western North America, Bullock's orioles breed as far west as the eastern foothills of the Cascade Range and as far east as the Dakotas and northern Central Texas. Their range extends north to British Columbia and south to Sonora or Durango in Mexico. During winter, they migrate to Mexico and northern Central America.

Behaviour

Bullock's orioles are seasonally monogamous, with a breeding season from May to July. They weave deep, pendant nests where they lay three to six eggs. Both parents participate in rearing the young and defending the nest. In the Midwest, where their range overlaps with the Baltimore oriole, hybridization occurs.

Song & Calls

Both sexes are vocal, with males producing a sweeter sound and females being more prolific singers. Their song is reminiscent of the Baltimore oriole's but is faster and more harsh.

Breeding

The nest, a collaborative effort between mated pairs, is a woven basket of plant fibers and animal hair, lined with down, hair, and moss. The breeding season's onset varies geographically, with later starts in the northern and western parts of their range.

Similar Species

Bullock's orioles were once considered conspecific with Baltimore orioles under the name northern oriole. However, breeding data, molt timing, and DNA analysis have since confirmed them as distinct species.

Diet and Feeding

These birds forage in trees and shrubs, catching insects in flight. They consume a diet of insects, berries, and nectar, and are known to visit hummingbird feeders. They also enjoy fruits such as oranges and grapes, and in some regions, they are particularly attracted to dishes of grape jelly.

Conservation status

The Bullock's oriole is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating a stable population without significant immediate threats to its survival.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Bullock's Orioles on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Oropendolas, Orioles, Blackbirds

A photo of a Greyish Baywing (Agelaioides badius)

Greyish Baywing

Agelaioides badius
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Emma L
App got me interested in birding!
Super friendly community <3 This app got me interested in birding! It teaches me cool stuff and its super friendly, and fun :) The species guide is really developing my knowledge, and i love seeing cool new birds from round the world!
Marlster24
Recommend for any bird watcher
Very wholesome app: I joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😃
Birdafan
Ideal Birdwatch Companion
Simply adds to the enjoyment of my birdwatching and helps me record what I’ve seen.
Chudbond
Love Birda
I love this app. It really encourages you to log your sightings and the community is friendly and helpful.
Nedz53
Really useful
Downloaded to give it a try, everything worked perfectly, recorded my first bird watching walk. Very impressed. Have already recommended to friends!
Alex J
Friendly and helps to identify birds
Great birding app, good for logging your sightings, also has nice species guide. I'm enjoying the social aspect more than I expected, everyone seems friendly and helps to identify unknown birds. Good mix of newbies and experienced users.
David C
Very knowledgeable group
Nice friendly birding community. Very knowledgeable group with a willingness to help.
Nicole
Gets me outdoors more
I'm still loving this app. I use it most days & gets me outdoors more. Enjoying watching others progress and photo's, it's improved my wellbeing.... I love this app! I can keep a record of sightings and see what others have seen too.
Tralisalandhoop
Fantastic app - Love it!
Love this app and have used it almost daily. Lots of species information and easy to use. Love seeing birds spotted by other users in the UK and worldwide.
Madstherangers
A mordern game changer
Birda is an awesome app, its updated the world of birding to the modern day with a fun and easy to use app. It’s engaging and allows positive interaction with fellow bird lovers!
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.