oriole in Arizona (1 Viewer)

zoutedrop

zoutedrop

• Oct 9, 2015

• #1

Hi all,

I got this oriole visiting my hummer feeder this week in SE Phoenix.

I am assuming its a first year bird.

 

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A

aeshna5

Well-known member

• Oct 9, 2015

• #2

Juvenile Baltimore Oriole I would say.

 

chris butterworth

aka The Person Named Above

• Oct 9, 2015

• #3

Difficult but, the yellow on the breast seems paler than on the "face", and appears to be rather straight across the breast ( not an elongated 'V' shape ) which would suggest Bullocks. Bullocks is also the default member of the pair in AZ.

 

zoutedrop

zoutedrop

• Oct 11, 2015

• #4

Thanks for the feedback.

I am a bit concerned about another ID. The bird above and this one came at the same time. I very rarely get orioles.

I identified the below bird as a female Hooded. I thought there was a chance that the above bird could be hooded because of the decurved bill and the company it was keeping.

Thanks for a look at the female below.

 

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chris butterworth

aka The Person Named Above

• Oct 11, 2015

• #5

I could be wrong but, I've always thought Baltimore / Bullocks has a finer, more "spiky" bill and Hooded a heavier looking / bulky "Thrasher-like" one. Hooded, being a much smaller bird, also appears to have a more "innocent" look to the face than the more "sneering" one of Baltimore / Bullocks. Having said that, I've only ever seen a couple of dozen juvenile Hoodeds so .............

 

zoutedrop

zoutedrop

• Oct 12, 2015

• #6

Bullock's it is, thanks guys.

 

Tiraya

San Diego CA

• Oct 12, 2015

• #7

In these female/younger plumages Hooded is generally uniform yellowish, while Bullock's has an orange head and tail with the rest of the body greyish.

A legitimate concern though is orchard vs hooded, particularly for your second bird in that plumage.

 

Last edited: Oct 12, 2015

zoutedrop

zoutedrop

• Oct 13, 2015

• #8

I did a follow up on the second bird and concluded Hooded. The Orchid has a noticeably shorter tail. Thanks for the observation.

 

Tiraya

San Diego CA

• Oct 13, 2015

• #9

They are quite different in size as well but that is easier to see in the field.