278 U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 211 



sequence, and a single clear note, kleek. Female and young give 

 simple harsh blackbird-like notes." 



Ralph Hoffmann (1927) says: "In late March or early April a 

 flash of orange or black in the delicate green of cottonwoods, a charac- 

 teristic chatter, or the kip, kit-tick, kit-tick, whew, wheet of the song 

 announce the arrival in southern California of the Bullock Oriole." 



Mrs. Wheelock (1904) writes: "Its call-notes and song resemble 

 those of the Baltimore, but have less sweetness and variety. Where 

 the latter whistles half a dozen variations on his original theme of 

 five notes, the Bullock is content to repeat the same phrase with 

 few modifications. Nor have I ever heard him give the love song 

 that is poured out by the Baltimore with such tenderness just at 

 dawn when his mate is on the nest." 



Field Marks. — A brilliant pattern of orange, black and white 

 marks the adult male Bullock's oriole. The top of the head, hind 

 neck, upper back, central tail feathers, and tip of the tail are black; 

 the lores, a narrow stripe behind the eye, and the throat are also 

 black. The wing coverts and edges of the secondaries are white. 

 The rest of the plumage, including the forehead, a broad band above 

 the eye, sides of the head and neck, and entire under parts are rich, 

 brilliant orange; the rump, upper tail coverts, and the lateral tail 

 feathers are also orange. The female is much more soberly colored, 

 olive above and buffy white below, but the sides of the head and neck 

 are more tinged with orange than in other orioles, there is a dusky 

 streak through the eye, some black on the throat, and two white 

 wing bars. 



Enemies. — The usual enemies of small birds — crows, magpies, jays 

 and squirrels — often attempt to rob the nests of eggs or young; the 

 nests are often more accessible than are those of the Baltimore oriole, 

 but the parents are good guardians and often succeed in driving the 

 robbers away. 



Friedmann (1929) records the Bullock's oriole as a rather rare 

 victim of the dwarf cowbird, but says that this "species is frequently 

 parasitized by the Red-eyed Cowbird." Major Bendire (1895) says; 

 "Bullock's Oriole may occasionally rid herself of the parasitic egg; at 

 any rate I noticed the remains of one lying under a nest of this species, 

 with portions of one of her own. This nest contained only three eggs 

 of the rightful owner, and the bird was sitting on these." 



Fall. — Referring to the Fresno district of California, J. G. Tyler 

 (1913) writes: "The great majority of our orioles depart about the 

 twentieth of July, or at the close of the nesting season. No doubt a 

 scarcity of food during the hot, dry months of August and September 

 is responsible for the short stay of these birds. Probably they scatter 

 out and range up into the higher hills, as many summer residents do 



