All About Hooded Orioles

by Susan Nelson Hopkins

The Hooded Oriole, Icterus cucullatus, is a medium-sized New World oriole named for the completely orange hood on the male.

They are very much at home in suburban areas of the southwestern United States.

Hooded Orioles readily adapted to habitat changes...

Originally these slender orioles nested in the trees of desert oases, but have now cleverly adapted to ornamental trees and palms.

For instance, when suspending their nest from palm leaves, the female actually pokes holes in the leaf from below and then pushes the fibers through... effectively sewing the nest to the leaf.

Amazing what a determined mom can do with a sharp beak and a clever (though pea-sized) brain!

They forage for insects in trees and shrubs, and also feed on flowers and fruit. (Unlike the Orchard oriole, however, the Hooded oriole does not help pollinate because it actually pierces the flower base.)

A sure way to entice them into your backyard is to place bits of fruit on a platform feeder. They are also attracted to oriole feeders.

We have a FREE oriole nectar recipe formula... ready for printing. You will also find some sources for related items.

Have a look at the articles in the Care of Wild Birds section. You will find tips and resources for feeding wild birds, caring for baby birds... even how to prevent wild birds from crashing into windows.

The male Hooded oriole...

He has an entirely orange or orange-yellow head, nape, rump, and underparts.
He has a black bib, narrow mask, and back. In fresh plumages, the edges are pale.
His wings are black with two white wingbars. The upper one is wide and bold, the lower one is narrow.
His tail black.

The female Hooded oriole...

Her head, rump, and tail are olive-yellow.
Her underparts are dull, but a brighter yellow.
She has a dull grayish-olive back.
Her wings are dusky, with two white wingbard. The top one is broader than the lower one.

The immature male Hooded oriole...

A juvenile male resembles the adult female.
He also has a black bib and mask that are less extensive than the adult male.
He will start looking like an adult male during his second fall.

The immature female Hooded oriole...

The juvenile female is similar to an adult female, only paler.

Migratory ranges of the Orchard oriole...

Winter range... They migrate in flocks to similar habitats in Mexico. Because of the similarities in weather, some individuals may over-winter in their summer habitats if feeders are kept full. See the map to the right - blue areas...

Summer range... Breeds and nests among scattered trees and mesquite brush in desert oases and along streams. They are also fond of palm trees in urban and suburban locations. See the map to the right - orange areas...

Migration range... See the map to the right - yellow areas...

Density observations... See the map to the left - the darker shades represent denser populations.

Hooded oriole nests, eggs, and hatchlings...

Breeding pairs locate their nests in deciduous and ornamental trees (like palms). With their desert habitats declining, they have been forced to adapt to whatever is available.

A Hooded oriole's nest is a tightly woven pouch attached to the underside of tree leaves or palm fronds. The nest may be hanging, or attached by the rim and even the sides. The breeding pair both share in creating this pouch woven of plant fibers.

The female usually lays a clutch of 3 to 5 white eggs, marked with irregular brown spots at the large end.

The female tends the eggs during the 12 to 14 day incubation period. The babies are nearly naked and quite helpless. Both parents feed the chicks from hatching through fledging - about 14 more days. They even continue to feed the fledglings for a few more days.

Acknowledgements:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/
http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA/
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/

More Articles About Oriole Song Birds:
Baltimore Oriole Song Birds
More About Baltimore Orioles
All About Bullock's Orioles
All About Hooded Orioles
All About Orchard Orioles
Oriole Nectar Recipe, Formula, and Tips

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