Connecticut Audubon Bird Finder for June 6: Orchard Oriole

Orchard Oriole
Icterus spurius

Written by Andy Rzeznikiewicz, land manager at our Pomfret and Trail Wood sanctuaries

Where to find it: The Orchard Oriole is usually found in large trees or shrubs near water and in some cases in open areas with scattered trees and shrubs.  Orchard Orioles return to Connecticut in early May and begin to migrate back to their wintering areas as early as mid-July.

Connecticut Audubon Society’s Center at Pomfret has an increasing population of breeding Orchard Orioles. Although there aren’t enough Breeding Bird Survey data to be sure about Connecticut’s population, Orchard Orioles seem to be increasing throughout the Northeast.

The Sugar Brook field trial area (in the Quinebaug Wildlife Area) in Plainfield has nesting birds around the edge of the meadows. One or two Orchard Orioles usually nest in and around the clearing at our Milford Point Coastal Center.

How to find it: At the Pomfret sanctuary, check the hedgerow in the parking lot and the cluster of trees behind the center beyond the information kiosk. Also, check the large trees in front and the hedgerows on the trail across from the nature center. They are usually quite vocal. They seem to nest in groups. Check flowering trees: they feed on the nectar and the insects in the flowers.

What it looks like: Orchard Oriole is the smallest oriole in North America, about seven inches. The adult males are have a black head, back and wings, with a rich rusty underside – in good light a really sharp looking bird! The females are pretty much all yellow with grayish wings and white wing bars. The first spring males look like the females except they have a black throat. The first year males are very attractive looking and a must-see when looking for Orchard Orioles. We do have some first-year males around the Pomfret nature center.

What if the bird isn’t there? Check for Eastern Meadowlarks and American Kestrels in the fields around the center. Eastern Kingbirds, Bluebirds, swallows, White-eyed Vireos, Yellow Warblers, Willow Flycatchers and a large assortment of other species can be found in the same habitat frequented by Orchard Orioles.

Conservation status: Least concern.

Connecticut Audubon Bird Finder is edited by Tom Andersen.
Photo by Sandee Harraden