269 
Field Marks. Throughout the Prairie Provinces, except in southern Alberta and 
adjacent Saskatchewan, this is the only Oriole to be regularly expected. The bright flashing 
orange and black livery of the male is easily recognized. In above localities the all-black 
face is distinctive from Bullock's Oriole. *The female, larger 
than any other bird of similar coloration except Bullock's 
Oriole and the Tanagers, in its dull orange and green, is 
easily recognizable. It may not always be separable in life 
from the former except by geographical probability, but is 
easily distinguished from the latter by its general orange 
tone instead of plain dull green. The voices of the Orioles 
are always distinctive; a rich contralto whistle with 
numerous musical themes. 
Nesting. The nest of the Baltimore Oriole is one of 
the avian curiosities. It is in the form of a bag woven of 
fibres, plant down, hairs, and string, and hangs from the end 
of long, drooping branches. With her sharp, awl-like bill the female thrusts a fibre into 
the side of the nest, then reaching over to the inside pulls it through, tugging to make 
all tight and solid, another fibre is thrust in and the process repeated until when complete 
the nest is so knitted, woven, and felted together that though tossed at the end of long, 
flexible, whip-like branch tips through summer and winter storms, it remains intact for 
several years. 
Distribution Eastern North America. In Canada, west to the mountains and north 
to the central parts of the Prairie Provinces. 
Figure 257 
Baltimore Oriole; scale, 
about f . 
Open country with scattered groves and occasional large isolated elms 
is the ideal habitat of the Baltimore Oriole. It obtains its name from 
its brilliant orange and black livery, the colours of Lord Baltimore, under 
whose patronage the state of Maryland was first settled and in whose 
honour the bird was named by the early settlers. 
Economic Status. The food of the Oriole consists mostly of insects, 
including, in order of numbers, caterpillars, click-beetles, of which the 
pestilent wire worms are the larvae, May beetles, and grasshoppers. Very 
few predaceous beetles are taken. The amount of vegetable matter is 
small. This species, therefore, ranks very high as an insect destroyer. 
Complaints are sometimes made that the Oriole spoils fruit, and it has 
been accused of puncturing grapes for the juice. Though the Baltimore 
Oriole cannot be altogether exonerated from these charges, they are very 
easily exaggerated, and are of little import in the Prairie Provinces. The 
good the bird can do is great, and the harm occasional and slight, except 
under local and particular conditions. 
508. Bullock’s Oriole. Icterus bullocki. L, 8*25. Plate XLIX A. Between 
a Robin and a Sparrow in size, averaging a little larger than the Baltimore Oriole. Male: 
a rich golden orange with elongated black bib, crown, line through eye, back, wings, and 
most or tail. Female: dull orange, or warm yellowish to white below, and smooth dull 
olive above. 
Distinctions. Most likely to be confused with its near relative, the Baltimore Oriole, 
with which it may be associated in southern Alberta and adjoining parts of Saskatchewan. 
The adult male is easily distinguished from that species by its golden face and superciliary 
line; and conspicuous amount of white on the wing, the greater and adjoining coverts 
being mostly white, instead of white only on the tips of the greater. The female is too like 
the female of the Baltimore to be readily separated from it, but, in general, is paler, with 
few, if any, dark feather centres on the back, and the crown usually uniform yellow or 
golden olive. Juvenile males are like the female, and various intermediate stages up to 
the adult spring plumage occur. 
Field Marks. Throughout southern British Columbia this is the only Oriole to be 
expected. In southern Alberta and adjacent Saskatchewan, either this or the Baltimore 
may occur. The black and orange plumage of the Orioles is easily recognized. From the 
Baltimore, Bullock’s Oriole is distinguished by its golden face and superciliary stripe 
separated by a black line. The female in its dull yellow or orange and olive is larger than 
any other bird of similar coloration, except the Baltimore Oriole and the Western Tanager . 
