Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)

A brilliant adult male attracted to orange halves impaled on twigs by volunteers. They are unrelated to the Old World Orioles (family Oriolidae), but are actually New World Blackbirds (family Icteridae). Although they hybridize in Kansas and Nebraska with the western Bullock's Oriole, DNA analysis indicates they are not each other's closest relatives. Instead they are more closely related to the Black-backed and Streak-backed orioles of Mexico. Their songs and nests also differ significantly and the hybrids appear to be at a selective disadvantage. The AOS split them in the 40th supplement (1995) after previously lumping them as "Northern Oriole" in the 6th edition (1983) of the check-list.