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Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus)

Photo Credit: Gerald and Buff Corsi
California Academy of Sciences

Length: 8 in.
Habitat: open woods, suburbs, parks.

Orioles are migrants: here today, gone around September, in most areas. They can be found nesting anywhere in their range (mostly Southwest), north of Mexico. When they are not stopping to sing or to work on their fantastic hanging nests, orioles are busy gleaning insects from the foliage.

UNfortunately, the personnality of these birds is not as pretty as their plumage. The male can be absolutely vicious driving away others of its kind from its selected territory.

These birds freely move between trees and shrubs, and they often fly across open spaces. But you'' rarely see them on the ground, unless they're fetching pieces of string you've put out—or fighting ferociously with the trespassing male.