New World oriole
Encyclopedia
New World orioles, comprising the genus Icterus, are a group of bird
s in the blackbird
family. They are not related to Old World orioles
which are in the family Oriolidae, but are strikingly similar in size, diet, behaviour and in their strongly contrasting plumage
, and are a good example of convergent evolution
. Almost inevitably, the two took the same vernacular name.
The males are typically black and yellow or orange, with white markings; the plumage of females and immature birds is duller. These birds go through one moult
in a year. They are generally slender with long tails and a pointed bill. They mainly eat insect
s, often also nectar and fruit
. The nest is a woven, elongated pouch. Several species are easy to attract to birdtables by the provision of cut oranges
and grape jelly. Species nesting in areas with cold winters (including most of the United States
) are strongly migratory
, while subtropical and tropical species are more sedentary.
The name "oriole" was first recorded (in the Latin
form oriolus) by Albertus Magnus
in about 1250, and was stated by him to be onomatopoeic, from the song of the European Golden Oriole
.
The genus name Icterus as used by classical authors, referred to a bird with yellow or green plumage. In modern times this has been identified as the golden oriole
. Brisson
re-applied the name to the New World birds because of their similarity in appearance.
list is provisional. The exact delimitation of several taxa is unclear, and hybridization seems to be a significant confounding factor, for example in the Baltimore
and Bullock's Oriole
:
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s in the blackbird
Icterid
The Icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most species have black as a predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange or red. The family is extremely varied in size, shape, behavior and coloration...
family. They are not related to Old World orioles
Oriole
Orioles are colourful Old World passerine birds in the genus Oriolus, the namesake of the corvoidean family Oriolidae. They are not related to the New World orioles, which are icterids and, belonging to the superfamily Passeroidea songbirds, are quite unrelated to the true orioles.The orioles are...
which are in the family Oriolidae, but are strikingly similar in size, diet, behaviour and in their strongly contrasting plumage
Feather
Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds and some non-avian theropod dinosaurs. They are considered the most complex integumentary structures found in vertebrates, and indeed a premier example of a complex evolutionary novelty. They...
, and are a good example of convergent evolution
Convergent evolution
Convergent evolution describes the acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated lineages.The wing is a classic example of convergent evolution in action. Although their last common ancestor did not have wings, both birds and bats do, and are capable of powered flight. The wings are...
. Almost inevitably, the two took the same vernacular name.
The males are typically black and yellow or orange, with white markings; the plumage of females and immature birds is duller. These birds go through one moult
Moult
In biology, moulting or molting , also known as sloughing, shedding, or for some species, ecdysis, is the manner in which an animal routinely casts off a part of its body , either at specific times of year, or at specific points in its life cycle.Moulting can involve the epidermis , pelage...
in a year. They are generally slender with long tails and a pointed bill. They mainly eat insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s, often also nectar and fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
. The nest is a woven, elongated pouch. Several species are easy to attract to birdtables by the provision of cut oranges
Orange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
and grape jelly. Species nesting in areas with cold winters (including most of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) are strongly migratory
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
, while subtropical and tropical species are more sedentary.
The name "oriole" was first recorded (in the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
form oriolus) by Albertus Magnus
Albertus Magnus
Albertus Magnus, O.P. , also known as Albert the Great and Albert of Cologne, is a Catholic saint. He was a German Dominican friar and a bishop, who achieved fame for his comprehensive knowledge of and advocacy for the peaceful coexistence of science and religion. Those such as James A. Weisheipl...
in about 1250, and was stated by him to be onomatopoeic, from the song of the European Golden Oriole
Golden Oriole
The Eurasian Golden Oriole or simply Golden Oriole is the only member of the oriole family of passerine birds breeding in northern hemisphere temperate regions...
.
The genus name Icterus as used by classical authors, referred to a bird with yellow or green plumage. In modern times this has been identified as the golden oriole
Golden Oriole
The Eurasian Golden Oriole or simply Golden Oriole is the only member of the oriole family of passerine birds breeding in northern hemisphere temperate regions...
. Brisson
Mathurin Jacques Brisson
Mathurin Jacques Brisson was a French zoologist and natural philosopher.Brisson was born at Fontenay-le-Comte. The earlier part of his life was spent in the pursuit of natural history, his published works in this department including Le Règne animal and Ornithologie...
re-applied the name to the New World birds because of their similarity in appearance.
Provisional species list
This speciesSpecies
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
list is provisional. The exact delimitation of several taxa is unclear, and hybridization seems to be a significant confounding factor, for example in the Baltimore
Baltimore Oriole
The Baltimore Oriole is a small icterid blackbird that averages 18 cm long and weighs 34 g. This bird received its name from the fact that the male's colors resemble those on the coat-of-arms of Lord Baltimore...
and Bullock's Oriole
Bullock's Oriole
The Bullock's Oriole, , is a small New World blackbird. At one time, this species and the Baltimore Oriole were considered to be a single species, the Northern Oriole...
:
- Epaulet OrioleEpaulet OrioleThe Epaulet Oriole is a species of bird in the Icteridae family. The Moriche Oriole, formerly considered a distinct species The Epaulet Oriole (Icterus cayanensis) is a species of bird in the Icteridae family. The Moriche Oriole, formerly considered a distinct species The Epaulet Oriole (Icterus...
, Icterus cayanensis- Moriche OrioleMoriche OrioleThe Moriche Oriole, Icterus cayanensis chrysocephalus, is a passerine bird in the New World family Icteridae. It is unrelated to Old World orioles . It is a breeding resident in the tropics of eastern South America...
, Icterus cayanensis chrysocephalus - recently merged into I. cayanensis
- Moriche Oriole
- Yellow-backed OrioleYellow-backed OrioleThe Yellow-backed Oriole is a species of bird in the Icteridae family.-Physical description:Yellow-backed orioles are a yellow-bodied, sexually monomorphic species. Howell and Webb note that this species tends to average 21.5 cm in length from beak to tail; making Icterus chrysater a...
, Icterus chrysater - Yellow OrioleSouth American Yellow OrioleThe Yellow Oriole, Icterus nigrogularis, is a passerine bird in the family Icteridae. It should not be confused with the Australasian Yellow Oriole, Oriolus flavocinctus, which is an Old World oriole...
, Icterus nigrogularis - Jamaican OrioleJamaican OrioleThe Jamaican Oriole is a species of bird in the Icteridae family. It is found in Jamaica and on the Colombian island of San Andrés...
, Icterus leucopteryx- Grand Cayman Oriole, Icterus leucopteryx bairdi - extinct (mid-20th century)
- Orange OrioleOrange OrioleThe Orange Oriole is a species of bird in the Icteridae family. It is found in Belize and Mexico.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and heavily degraded former forest.-References:...
, Icterus auratus - Yellow-tailed OrioleYellow-tailed OrioleThe Yellow-tailed Oriole, Icterus mesomelas, is a passerine bird in the New World family Icteridae. It breeds from southern Mexico to western Peru and northwestern Venezuela; in Peru it also lives in a river valley corridor....
, Icterus mesomelas - Orange-crowned OrioleOrange-crowned OrioleThe Orange-crowned Oriole is a species of bird in the Icteridae family. It is found in Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela....
, Icterus auricapillus - White-edged OrioleWhite-edged OrioleThe White-edged Oriole is a species of bird in the Icteridae family. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests...
, Icterus graceannae - Spot-breasted OrioleSpot-breasted OrioleThe Spot-breasted Oriole is a species of bird in the Icteridae family.It is found in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and the United States....
, Icterus pectoralis - Altamira OrioleAltamira OrioleThe Altamira Oriole, Icterus gularis, is a New World oriole. The bird is widespread in subtropical lowlands of the Mexican Gulf Coast and northern Central America, the Pacific coast and inland. It also can be found in the extreme south of Texas, .At 25 cm and 56 grams, this is the...
, Icterus gularis
- Streak-backed OrioleStreak-backed OrioleThe Streak-backed Oriole, Icterus pustulatus, is a medium-sized icterid ....
, Icterus pustulatus - Bullock's OrioleBullock's OrioleThe Bullock's Oriole, , is a small New World blackbird. At one time, this species and the Baltimore Oriole were considered to be a single species, the Northern Oriole...
, Icterus bullockii - Hooded OrioleHooded OrioleThe Hooded Oriole, Icterus cucullatus, is a medium-sized New World oriole.Adults have a pointed bill and white wing bars. The adult male has an orange head with black on the face and throat; they are black on the back, wings and tail, orange on the underparts...
, Icterus cucullatus - (Venezuelan) TroupialTroupialThe Troupial , Icterus icterus is the national bird of Venezuela and one of about 25 or so species of "New World Orioles"...
, Icterus icterus- Campo Troupial, Icterus (i.) jamacaii
- Orange-backed Troupial, Icterus (i./j.) croconotus
- Baltimore OrioleBaltimore OrioleThe Baltimore Oriole is a small icterid blackbird that averages 18 cm long and weighs 34 g. This bird received its name from the fact that the male's colors resemble those on the coat-of-arms of Lord Baltimore...
, Icterus galbula - Black-backed OrioleBlack-backed OrioleThe Black-backed Oriole is a species of bird in the Icteridae family. It is endemic to Mexico.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-References:...
, Icterus abeillei - Orchard OrioleOrchard OrioleThe Orchard Oriole, Icterus spurius, is the smallest North American species of icterid blackbird. The subspecies of the Caribbean coast of Mexico, I. s. fuertesi, is sometimes considered a separate species, the Ochre Oriole....
, Icterus spurius- Fuertes's Oriole, Icterus (spurius) fuertesi
- Black-cowled OrioleBlack-cowled OrioleThe Black-cowled Oriole is a species of bird in the Icteridae family.It is found in Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and possibly Honduras....
, Icterus prosthemelas - Bahama OrioleBahama OrioleThe Bahama Oriole is a species of bird in the Icteridae family. It is endemic to the Bahamas. The taxon was formerly lumped with the Cuban Oriole , Hispaniolan Oriole , and Puerto Rican Oriole into a single species until all four were elevated to full species in...
, Icterus northropi - Cuban OrioleCuban OrioleThe Cuban Oriole is a species of bird in the Icteridae family. It is endemic to Cuba.The taxon was formerly lumped with the Bahama Oriole , Hispaniolan Oriole , and Puerto Rican Oriole into a single species until all four were elevated to full species in 2010.Its natural...
, Icterus melanopsis - Hispaniolan OrioleHispaniolan OrioleThe Hispaniolan Oriole is a species of bird in the Icteridae family. It is endemic to Hispaniola.The taxon was formerly lumped with the Cuban Oriole , Bahama Oriole , and Puerto Rican Oriole into a single species until all four were elevated to full species in 2010.Its natural...
, Icterus dominicensis - Puerto Rican OriolePuerto Rican OrioleThe Puerto Rican Oriole is a species of bird in the Icteridae family. It is endemic to Puerto Rico.The taxon was formerly lumped with the Cuban Oriole , Hispaniolan Oriole , and Bahama Oriole into a single species until all four were elevated to full species in 2010.Its...
, Icterus portoricensis - Black-vented OrioleBlack-vented OrioleThe Black-vented Oriole is a species of bird in the Icteridae family. It is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and the United States....
, Icterus wagleri - St. Lucia Oriole, Icterus laudabilis
- Martinique OrioleMartinique OrioleThe Martinique Oriole is a species of bird in the Icteridae family. It is endemic to Martinique.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, and plantations .-References:* BirdLife...
, Icterus bonana - Montserrat OrioleMontserrat OrioleThe Montserrat Oriole, Icterus oberi, is a medium-sized black-and-yellow icterid ....
, Icterus oberi - Audubon's OrioleAudubon's OrioleAudubon's Oriole , is a New World passerine inhabiting the forests and thickets of southeastern Texas and the Mexican coast. It is the only species to have a black hood and yellow body. It is divided into four subspecies and two allopatric breeding ranges...
, Icterus graduacauda - Bar-winged OrioleBar-winged OrioleThe Bar-winged Oriole is a species of bird in the Icteridae family. It is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico....
, Icterus maculialatus - Scott's OrioleScott's OrioleThe Scott's Oriole, Icterus parisorum, is a medium-sized icterid ....
, Icterus parisorum
External links
- New World oriole videos, photos and sounds on the Internet Bird Collection