Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)

A rare migrant and winter visitor to California, they normally breed in the Eastern United States and winter in Middle America. Orchard Oriole is the smallest oriole in North America. Breeding adult males have distinctive black and chestnut plumage. First cycle males such as this resemble females but have an extensive black bib. Both immature males and females can be confused with similar plumages of Hooded Oriole. Note the shorter tail, shorter straighter bill, stronger wing-bars and more gentle expression of Orchard Oriole cf. Hooded Oriole. This is presumably the nominate North American race.