Hooded Oriole

The Hooded Oriole, Icterus cucullatus, is a medium-sized bird of the New World oriole family. Males are resplendent with a bright orange to a paler yellow hue, contrasted by a black back, face, tail, and bib. Their wings are adorned with two white bars. Females, on the other hand, are cloaked in an olive tone with hints of yellow.

Identification Tips

Adults boast a distinctly curved bill, jet black in color, and are marked by white bars on the wings. The male's head is a deep yellowish-orange, with black gracing the face and throat. The back, wings, and tail are also black, while the underparts are a vibrant orange. Females are olive-green on the upper parts and yellowish on the breast and belly.

Habitat

The Hooded Oriole favors open areas with trees, showing a particular fondness for palms. This habitat preference is evident across the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

Distribution

These birds migrate in flocks to the southwestern coast of Mexico and are permanent residents in Baja California Sur, the Mexican east coast, and Belize. Some may over-winter near feeders and can be found in Southern California neighborhoods, though they are rare in the winter months.

Behaviour

Hooded Orioles are acrobatic feeders, often seen hanging upside down to extract nectar from flowers and to capture their insect prey. They forage methodically in trees and shrubs, also feeding from flowers. They are known as nectar robbers, piercing the base of the flower without aiding in pollination.

Song & Calls

The song of the Hooded Oriole is short and abrupt, lacking the whistling quality of other orioles and often sounding nasal and whiny. There is significant variation in their song both geographically and individually, with some males incorporating mimicry of other bird species. Common calls include a whistled "wheet" or "sweet," and a rapid, shrill chatter used as an alarm.

Breeding

Males establish breeding territories upon arrival at nesting sites in late March. The breeding season varies by region, spanning from April to August. Nests are intricately woven pouches attached to the underside of a leaf or tree branch, often parasitized by brown-headed cowbirds. Females lay 3-5 eggs, which are white to pale blue with darker splotches, incubated for 12-14 days. Nestlings fledge after about 14 days.

Similar Species

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Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Hooded Oriole includes insects, berries, nectar, and occasionally seeds from bird feeders. They have a particular appetite for caterpillars, beetles, wasps, and ants. They also visit hummingbird feeders for nectar.

Conservation status

The Hooded Oriole is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not currently at significant risk of decline.