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Orchard Oriole

Posted on May 17, 2016

This adult male Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) is a Stratford Point resident, deftly avoiding our cameras for the most part while feeding mostly in the canopy. Occasionally he drops down closer to eye level, and he has been seen copulating with our resident female. It is likely that we will once again have a nesting pair on site. The family grows up quickly though, and even by the end of July this guy may be heading back to Central America. When they are not vocalizing they can be surprisingly inconspicuous. This is probably the best time of year to get some good views of them without disturbing the soon to be parents or eventual nest full of hatchlings.

Orchard Oriole adult male-2374

Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation & Outreach Coordinator