Orchard Oriole

(Icterus spurius)

Conservation Status
Orchard Oriole
Photo by Gregory Gilman
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

 
  NatureServe

N5B - Secure Breeding

SNRB - Unranked Breeding

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

The male underparts are chestnut brown. The tail is entirely black.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

6 to 7 in length

9½ wingspan

 
     
 

Voice

 
   
     
 

Similar Species

 
  Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) is a larger bird, 7 to 8 in length. The male underparts, shoulder, and rump are bright orange. The outer tail feathers are orange.  
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Open woodlands, forest edges, suburbs

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Migration

 
 

 

 
     
 

Nesting

 
 

 

 
     
 

Food

 
 

Insects, berries, and flower nectar.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Occurrence

 
 

Uncommon migrant and breeder in the southern half of the state; occasional in the northwest; rare in the northeast.

 
         
 

Maps

 
 

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Aves (birds)  
 

Order

Passeriformes (perching birds)  
 

Family

Icteridae (New World blackbirds and orioles)  
 

Genus

Icterus (New World orioles)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

Fuertes’s Oriole (Icterus spurius spurius)

Northern Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius spurius)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Gregory Gilman

 
    Orchard Oriole      
 

Lynn Rubey

 
  An adult male Orchard Oriole coming to a stream during a hot and windy day. In The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge in Lac qui Parle County.   Orchard Oriole  
           
  An Orchard Oriole drinking water from the stream. In The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge in Lac qui Parle County.   Orchard Oriole  
 

Bill Reynolds

 
    Orchard Oriole   Orchard Oriole  
           
    Orchard Oriole      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           

 

Camera

 

     
 
Slideshows
 

Orchard Oriole
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

  Orchard Oriole  

Orchard Oriole
JMC Nature Photos

  Orchard Oriole  

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Orchard Oriole (Icteridae: Icterus spurius) Singing Male
Carl Barrentine
 
   
 
About

Published on May 28, 2012

Photographed at Fisher, Minnesota (28 May 2012).

 
  Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)
Mark George
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Dec 27, 2011

Filmed in Belize

 
  Orchard Oriole Portrait
eBirdr Channel
 
   
 
About

Published on Aug 22, 2013

The Orchard Oriole is common but local in southeastern Canada, central and eastern United States. It can be found in orchards, suburban shade trees, parks and gardens, and scattered trees along waterways. It is the smallest oriole. The male has a black head, throat, upper breast, upper back and tail. The lower back and belly are brick red or chestnut. The female has unstreaked olive-green upperparts with yellow underparts and two white wing bars. The immature male, as shown here, has an unstreaked olive-green back with a well defined black bib. The lower breast and belly is a greenish-yellow. The song is a rapid medley of flute-like notes and the call is a distinctive low "chuck".

 
  Orchard Oriole
The Music of Nature
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Jul 15, 2010

Video highlights of an Orchard Oriole gathered at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area near Columbia, Missouri on May 6, 2010, 7:30 pm.

© 2010 Lang Elliott
musicofnature.org

 
  Orchard Oriole singing
Bryan Prather
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on May 29, 2010

A Male Orchard Oriole singing in the twilight hours at Marais Temps Clair Conservation Area in northern St. Charles Co. on 5/28/10

 

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this bird.

 
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Be sure to include a location.
 
  Partridge River
5/14/2022

Location: Verndale, MN

first time seeing one

 
  Karlene M
5/12/2022

Location: Zimmerman, MN

At jelly feeder

 
  Barbara S
5/10/2022

Location: Greenfield, MN

grape jelly feeder

 
  Faith First
5/12/2021

Location: East bethel MN. by bird feeder near my house.

I live live in a very wooded area many acres and have just seen this bird for the first time. Also have Rose breasted grosbeaks among many other birds and wild life. 

 
  Joyce Minard
5/14/2020

Location: Rockford, MN 

At the jelly feeder  before noon. 

 
  Barbara
5/3/2020

Location: ST. Augusta, MN

One at feeder

 
  mram24
5/28/2019

Location: Pioneer Trail, N. Of Loretto

One male seen along with the 6-8 Baltimore Orioles that are regulars to our feeders. 

 
  HCJ
5/14/2019

Location: Rebecca Park - Rockford, MN

 
  Heather
early May-
early July

Location: Linwood, MN

we had quite a few Orioles at our nectar and grape jelly feeders. They seemed to be nesting as the male would take a beak full of jelly to the female in the trees

 
  Mark Mayer
5/10/2018

Location: Big Lake Township, near the Elk River

Have a male at the feeder this last week

 
  Judy
5/8/2018

Location: Coon Lake Beach neighborhood

This is the first time I have ever seen this bird at my feeders. Is it normal for them to be in MN?

 
  John Valo
5/10/2018

According to The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union Species Occurrence Maps, it is uncommon but not rare in Anoka County. It does nest in your area.

 
  Tina
5/15/2015

Location: St. Stephens, MN

 
  blkfxsb
5/25/2015

Location: @ oriole feeder 17 miles south east of Hibbing on Hwy #5

Male and Female

 
  Gregory Gilman
5/18/2015

Location: Rochester, MN

Orchard Oriole

 
  mmarch
5/7/2015

Location: Bemidji, MN

Around Cameron Park and nearby feeders.

 
  Bill Reynolds
5/27/2014

Location: Pennington Co.

Orchard Oriole

 
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

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