PERCHING BIRDS 



506. Orchard Oriole. Icterus spurius. 



Range. — United States, east of the Plains, 

 breeding from the Gulf to southern New Eng- 

 land, and Canada in the interior. Winters be- 

 yond our borders. 



The adult male of this spe- 

 cies is a rich chocolate brown 

 and black, it requiring three 

 years to attain this plumage. 

 They nest commonly about 

 habitations in their range, 

 usually preferring orchard 

 trees for sites. Their nests 

 are skillfully woven baskets 

 of fresh grasses, about as high as wide; they 

 are generally placed in upright forks and well 

 concealed by drooping leaves. They lay from 

 four to six bluish white eggs, spotted and 

 blotched with brown and lavender. Size .80 x 

 .55. Data. — Avery's Island, La., May 10, 1896. 

 Nest of grass, lined with thistledown; semi- 

 pensile in drooping twigs of a willow. Collec- 

 tor, F. A. Mcllhenny. 



Bluish white 



Ai-izona Hooded Oriole 



Orcliard Oriole 



507. B.ALTiMORE Oriole. Jrterus oalhiila. 



/J 



Range. -North America, east of the Rockies, breeding from southern United 



States north to New Brunswick and Saskatche- 

 wan. 



This beautiful and well known eastern Oriole 

 can readily be identified by its orange flame 

 color and entirely black head. Even bettei 

 known than the birds, are the pensile nests 

 which retain their positions on the swaying 

 drooping branches all 

 through tlie winter. Al- 

 tliough they build in 

 many other trees, elm.- 

 seem to be their favor- 

 ites. Their nests are 

 made of plant fibres and 

 frequently string, and 

 often reach a length of 

 about 10 inches and 

 about half that in diameter; they are usually 

 attached to drooping branches by the rim so 

 that they rock to and fro, but are sometimes 

 held more firmly in position by having their 

 side bound to a branch. Their eggs, which are 

 laid in May and June, are white, streaked and 

 lined with blackish brown and grayish. Size 

 .90 X .60. 





White 



i' 



Itiniore Oriole 



321 



21 



