Orchard Oriole - Ross Feldner

Unlike other orioles the Orchard Oriole sports a deep rust color. Although fairly common they can be inconspicuous poking around shrubs or sitting among the leaves at the top of a tree.

It feeds on insects and seeds gleaned from foliage as well as fruit and nectar from (you guessed it) orchards!

The male Orchard Oriole sings a chattering, whistled song to attract a mate. It’s whistling is often confused with grosbeaks or robins. The difference is the harsh “churrs” and “chatters” in between the sweeter notes.

Orchard Orioles prefer living in shaded trees within parks along lakes and streams making a nest that is a tightly woven pouch attached to a fork on a horizontal branch. Their nests tend to sit close together. They often nest in the same tree as Eastern Kingbirds in order to benefit from the Eastern Kingbird's aggressiveness toward potential predators.

During courtship, females display themselves in three ways. The first is by bowing their head and torso toward the male. Seesawing, the second courtship display, involves repetitively alternating lowering and raising the head and tail. The third display is called begging, a fast-paced fluttering of wings halfway extended, followed by a high whistle.