Northeastern and central U.S., southern and central Canada
FOOD:
Omnivore - insects, especially
caterpillars, fruit,
nectar
PREDATORS:
Owls, hawks, weasels, foxes, house cats
HABITAT:
Woodlands, clearings, forest edges, suburbs, parks and yards
Photo: Dr. Lloyd Glenn Ingles
DESCRIPTION
Orioles include several different species. The most
famous is probably the Baltimore oriole which the baseball team is named after.
Like many other birds, the male Baltimore oriole is
much more colorful than the female, with an orange body and black head and back.
They
weave beautiful hanging nests which they put high up in the trees. They often return to
the same nests each year. Baltimore oriole nests are shaped like pouches. They are woven
of stems, hair and string and hung high up, from the very tip of a branch. They
look quite delicate, but their location keeps predators away.
Every year they migrate long distances to their
winter homes in southern Mexico and Central America.
