ARIZONA HOODED ORIOLE 225 



approached, they lean forward and lower their heads in a characteristic 

 attitude while peering nervously at the intruder. 



While preferring well-watered situations, the orioles do not seem 

 greatly interested in the water itself, though they occasionally bathe. 

 The nectar which forms a part of their diet doubtless makes the 

 drinking of water unnecessary. Though not rated as a gregarious 

 species, there seems to be a certain desire for companionship, and in 

 spring before the nesting activities are under way, two of the brilliantly 

 hued males may often be seen feeding at the same flower stalk. The 

 young also remain in rather close association for some time after 

 attaining self-support. They are not quarrelsome, either amoug 

 themselves or with other species. In spite of the fact that they so 

 commonly frequent low shrubbery, these birds rarely alight on the 

 ground, though on occasions they may be seen hopping over a lawn, 

 presumably in search of insects. 



Voice. — The presence of the Arizona hooded oriole is usually first 

 betrayed by a liquid chirp repeated at intervals, or by a chatter like 

 that of Bullock's oriole, but lighter and softer in tone. Contrasting 

 strongly with the buglelike notes of the latter species is its pleasant 

 but unpretentious warbling song, which is neither loud nor frequent, 

 and is interspersed with the typical chatter or rattle. 



Field marks. — In flight, the male hooded oriole can most easily 

 be distinguished from the Bullock's and Scott's orioles by the appar- 

 ently solid black of the tail. The body color of this subspecies is 

 deeper yellow than in Scott's oriole, but less orange than in Bullock's. 

 In the western tanager, of somewhat similar size and coloration, the tail is 

 nearly even instead of graduated, the wings have yellow patches, and 

 the throat is without black. The entirely yellow crown of the hooded 

 oriole is distinctive, and the bill is more slender than in the others 

 mentioned. Descriptions of coloration are hardly adequate guides to 

 the field identification of the female orioles, but in the present species 

 the bill is more distinctly decurved and the tail more definitely 

 graduated. 



Bendire (1895) says: "The Arizona Hooded Oriole is imposed on to 

 a considerable extent by the Dwarf Cowbird, and I found several 

 nests containing one and two eggs of this parasite with one or two only 

 of the rightful owner." 



Enemies. — Herbert Friedmann (1929) lists this species among the 

 victims of both the dwarf cowbird (Molothrus ater obscurus) and the 

 bronzed cowbird (Tangavius aeneus aeneus) in Arizona. Its wariness, 

 nonterrestrial habits, and the nature of its nesting sites should render 

 it comparatively safe from most natural enemies. 



Fall. — Most of the Arizona hooded orioles have disappeared 



