Orchard Oriole

Icterus spurius

• ORDER: Passeriformes
• FAMILY: Icteridae

I ‘ll work on getting better pictures if this girl (or is it a juvenile) hangs around long enough to used to us. We couldn’t tell what species this bird was until it hung out at the hummer feeders. The hummers btw, were not pleased. They hovered at our windows to show us how they were clearly upset by this new development. I have a few really bad pictures of hummers trying to hover near the oriole, to no avail.

The orchard oriole is a late spring migrator north and has been known to depart for it’s winter grounds in mid to late summer and in fact, as early as July! Learning this, I had to find out just how long their incubation lasts and how long until they fledge.

Also, I found out that the female does most of the nest building and she does it in just 6 days. Take a look at this nest. I couldn’t build it in 6 weeks! Bravo little Oriole. Bravo!

Clutch Size:	4-6 eggs
Number of Broods:	1-2 broods
Egg Length:	0.8-0.9 in (1.9-2.3 cm)
Egg Width:	0.6-0.6 in (1.4-1.5 cm)
Incubation Period:	12-14 days
Egg Description:	Light blue or gray, with dark markings of purple, brown, black, or gray.
Condition at Hatch:	Helpless and covered with pale gray to tan down.
source:	Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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