104 ORCHARD ORIOLE 



The Oriole's nest is a marvel of intelligence and skill, 

 and one wonders that all the other birds do not learn 

 weaving and take it for a model. It is a deep pocket, 

 flexible and strong, hung far out at the end of a 

 branch, on twigs too slender to support the weight 

 of marauding crow or squirrel, and so constructed 

 that the wildest winds cannot loosen it or spill out 

 eggs or nestlings. Even human ingenuity could 

 scarcely suggest an improvement. 



As a destroyer of injurious insects, this Oriole is of 

 great value. Nearly half his food is caterpillars and 

 the rest is largely beetles, ants, grasshoppers, rose- 

 bugs and spiders. What a difference in our foliage, 

 fruit and flowers when we have these for bird neigh- 

 bors ! 



While the song of the Baltimore is especially mel- 

 low and flute-like, his talking note is a rather harsh 

 kr-r-r-r-r. This note is usually heard when the birds 

 are about, in or out of the song season. Both Balti- 

 more and Orchard Orioles are likely to nest in the 

 Smithsonian grounds. 



Orchard Oriole: Icterus spurius. 



Length 7^4 inches. 



Male, head, neck and upper back black; rest of the body 

 rich chestnut; wings and tail blackish. 



Female, upper parts olive-green; under parts dull yellow; 

 wings dark brown with white bars. 



First year males are like females; second year males have 

 a large black patch on the throat. 



Resident (common) from May I to September; winters 

 in Central America. 



The Orchard Oriole is more common than the Bal- 

 timore, but is less frequently noticed, as his colors 

 are inconspicuous and he keeps rather close in thickly- 



