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, P. A. Mcllhenny. 



Bluish white 



Arizona H l.-.i 



Orchard ( iriole 



507. Baltimore Oriole. Icterus galbula. 



&u 



Range. -North America, east of the Rockies, breeding from soutbern 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 better 



known than the birds, are the pensile ne i 



which retain their positions on the swaying 



drooping branches all 



through the winter. \\ 



though they build in 



many other trees, elm 



seem to be their l'a\ or 



iles. Their nests arc 



made of plant fibres and 



frequently string, and 



often reach a Length of 



about LO inches and 

 about half that in diameter; they are usually 



attached to drooping branches by the rim so 

 thai they roch to and fro, but are sometimi 

 held more firmly in position by having their 



side hound to a branch. Their eggs, which are 

 laid in May and June, are white, streaked and 

 lined with blackish brown and grayish. Size 

 .90 \ .60. 



321 



Whit. 



Bait Imore ' >rlol< 



21 



