How to Spot Baltimore Orioles

If you live in the eastern half of North America and see a beautiful orange and black bird flying overhead or perched in a tree, you're probably looking at a Baltimore Oriole. Baltimore Orioles are very distinctive looking birds, but if you want to be sure you've spotted one, then be sure to look for the following things.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Take note of the habitat of the Baltimore Oriole. These birds live primarily in the eastern United States and extreme southern Canada, and are rarely found further west than the Rocky Mountains. Look for Baltimore Orioles in deciduous woodlands, urban areas and parks.

2. Pay attention to the distinctive orange and black appearance of the Baltimore Oriole. They have a solid black head and upperparts. However, the rear and the underparts of the Baltimore Oriole are orange. The wings are mostly black, with white edged feathers and orange patches. Baltimore Orioles also have a rounded tail, and their wings are pointed. Females have a brownish-olive head and back and paler colored underparts than the male birds.

3. Notice that the Baltimore Oriole is a small sized bird between 18 and 21 cm long that weighs around 34 g, and has a typical wingspan between 29 and 32 cm.

4. Listen to the song and call of the Baltimore Oriole. Baltimore Orioles have a call that sounds similar to "hew-li." Their song is a musical, flutelike one, that contains "hew-li" and other sounds and rattles in an irregular pattern.

5. View the flight pattern of these colorful birds. Baltimore Orioles are very swift and direct flyers and also exhibit rapid wing beats during flight.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a field guide to help identify different Oriole birds.
• The Bullock's Oriole lives primarily in western North America, but they can be found with Baltimore Orioles in the central plains of the United States. The Bullock's Oriole has white patches on its wings and a black eye line.
• The Orchard Oriole is smaller in size and does not have the distinctive orange coloring found on a Baltimore Oriole.