BIRDS OP PENNSYLVANIA. 175 



507. Icterus galbula (LiNN.) 



Baltimore Oriole ; Hangingbird. 



(Plate 29.) 



The adults and young vary greatly in plumage. The adult female and young 

 male frequently can only be distinguished by dissection. 

 Length about 8 inches ; extent about 12^ inches ; female smaller. 

 Hab. Eastern United States ; west nearly to the Rocky Mountains. 



The Baltimore Oriole is quite plentifully distributed throughout 

 Pennsylvania as a summer resident. This well-known and beautiful 

 species winters, it is stated, in Cuba, Mexico and Central America, 

 and in the spring migrates northward, arriving in this latitude from 

 April 25 to May 1. The males come mostly a few days in advance of 

 the females, and appear usually in parties of five or eight, sometimes, 

 though rarely, flocks of fifteen or twenty individuals are observed. 

 These birds at first, and particularly if several should be together, are 

 generally found frequenting forests ; especially do they delight in 

 gleaning among the branches of the hickory, maple and oak trees. 

 The Baltimore Oriole, like the preceding species, is a common fre- 

 quenter about the habitations of man. This bird is known by a va- 

 riety of names, most of which have reference to his showy dress. The 

 appellation "Baltimore," Dr. Coues writes, "is not from the city 

 of that name, but from the title of Sir George Calvert first baron of 

 Baltimore; the colors of the bird being chosen for his livery, or resem- 

 bling those of his coat-of-arms." Key to N. A. Birds, p. 408. The 

 terms Golden-robin, Firebird and Red-bird, are in allusion to the 

 orange coloration, brightest on the breast, but varying in amount as 

 well as brilliancy with age and season. He is also called Hang-nest 

 and Hangingbird, from the fact that he, assisted by his mate, con- 

 structs a most elaborate pensile nest, so frequently seen swinging in 

 the pendant branches of the drooping willow, the spreading elm. the 

 stately poplar or the tall sycamore. Nest building, in this locality, is 

 begun late in May or early in June. The male devotes himself, prin- 

 cipally, to collecting the building materials, while upon the female, 

 Mr. Gentry states, " devolves the duty of weaving the ingredients 

 together, which is the labor of a week of almost steady application/' 

 The nest, composed of various materials, such as strings, pieces of 

 lint, rags, plant-fibres, hair, etc., which are capable of being woven 

 together, is always suspended from the pendulous branches of a tree 

 either in an orchard, lawn or woods. The bottom of this swaying, cylin- 

 dric and pouch- like abode is lined with different downy substances. The 

 nests are generally so placed that they are sheltered by a bunch of leaves 

 hanging from above, sometimes, however, when insufficient protec- 

 tion is thus furnished by nature, these weaver-birds, to shield their 



