From Opus

Icterus cucullatus

Photo by Marysan: adult male at Mission Trails Regional Park, San Diego, CA

[edit] Identification

112-128 cm (7-8 in.) Orange -yellow head and nape, and black back, face, throat, and upper breast. Downward curved bill. Black wings have two white bars. Tail is black. Female has olive-grey upperparts and yellow-green underparts. Juvenile is similar to female; male may show black on throat.

On males notice the black facial mask goes down perpedicular to the line from eye to upper bill, so that the black area constitutes a square. Similar, black-faced species have an angle smaller than 90 dg.

[edit] Distribution

Hooded Oriole Breeding Adult: Breeds from central California, Nevada, central Arizona, southern New Mexico, and southern Texas southward through Mexico to Belize. A few spend winters in southern California and southern Texas, most of the rest winter in Mexico. Casual vagrant to Oregon and Washington. Accidental vagrant to Ontario, Quebec, and Louisiana.

[edit] Taxonomy

Currently, seven subspecies (cucullatus, restrictus, nelsoni, sennetti, californicus, trochiloides, and igneus) are recognized, with several others considered synonyms.

[edit] Habitat

Deciduous and riparian woodlands and human habitations, often near ranches or towns.

[edit] Behaviour

Their nests in California become parasitized by both the Bronzed Cowbird and Brown-headed Cowbird.

Diet includes fruit, nectar, and insects.

The nests can be found in a tall tree, preferably in a fan palm or cottonwoods, sycamores, live oaks, and eucalyptus. The nest is cupshaped and hang from branches. They are made of vegetation by the female. 3-5 white, pale yellow or pale blue eggs are laid. Incubation is about 12-14 days, by the female.

[edit] External Links