170 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



BALTIMORE ORIOLE, 



A. O. U- No. 507. (Icterus galbula^ 



RANGE. 



The United States east of the Rocky Mountains. North to Ontario- 

 and Manitoba and south in winter to Central America. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Length, 6.75 in.; extent, 9.5 in.; tail, 2.7 in. Adult, male: entire- 

 head, neck, throat and upper back, black. Rest of under parts, lower 

 back, rump, and terminal half of outer tail feathers, intense orange or 

 flame color. Wings, with the exception of the orange shoulder are black, 

 most of the feathers being edged with white and the greater coverts 

 tipped with white. Female and young: entire under parts, dull orange 

 or saffron color. No black on the head which is brownish orange like 

 the tail. Back and wings grayish, the latter edged and tipped with, 

 white as in the male. 



NEST AND EGGS. 



The Baltimore Oriole builds one of the most unique of all North. 

 American bird's nests, a long pensile purse which is suspended gener- 

 ally from the long outer limbs of some large tree. Elms seem to be 

 their favorites when they can be found. In orchards they also fre- 

 quently build in pear trees. In most instances their nests are among 

 the most difficult to get at, although they are easy to find. They lay 

 from four to six grayish white eggs which are curiously scrawled with, 

 black lines. Their eggs are laid during the latter part of May. 



HABITS. 



The Baltimore Oriole is variously known at the "Fire Bird," "Hang- 

 Nest," Weaver or Tailor Bird," Golden Robin," and more locally by a 

 number of others. They are generally conceded to be one, if not, the,, 

 most beautiful of North American birds. Besides their beautiful plum- 

 age they have a very clear and attractive song which they are wont tO' 

 deliver very frequently during the spring and summer months. It is a 

 pure whistling melody that few birds can equal or surpass. 



Their peculiar nest has probably attracted more attention to this bird 

 than any other one thing. It is very strongly woven of string, grasses,, 

 fibers, caterpillar nests, etc., and frequently attains a length of seven or 



