Bobolink. Common grackle. Immature males similar to females, but with black throat. The Orchard Oriole swaps the typical flame-orange of other orioles for a deep, burnished russet. Orchard oriole, Icterus spurius, males 1,2, and female 3. Hopping among riverine shrubs or scattered trees, male Orchard Orioles sing a whistled, chattering song to attract yellow-green females. The male’s deep orange-chestnut underparts are set off by a black hood, back, and tail. Mayers, Harrisburg, 1890. Kelly Colgan Azar. Boat-tailed grackle. The song of orchard oriole is similar to the American robin, but the tone is a loud whistle intermixed with chattering. The female bird can vary in color, which is one reason they are hard to identify. She is small enough to sometimes be mistaken for a warbler. Size. The female is an even olive-yellow overall, with whitish wing bars. Prefers open woodlands, river edges, pastures with scattered trees, and orchards. Brewer's blackbird. Bullock's oriole. The bold patterning of black and yellow-orange sported by male Baltimore Orioles reminded early observers of the black and gold heraldry of Lord Baltimore—hence the species' common name. Male and female Baltimore Orioles are the same size. Females are dull yellow-green with white wingbars. Orchard Oriole, adult male, note the very short bill is slightly decurved. Like many oriole species, the female can sing and even duet with the male. The distinctive song generally starts with two or three high- pitched notes. This bird breeds in open country with scattered trees such as orchards, parks, residential areas, and has a preference for areas along lakes and streams. Orioles are colorful, vocal members of the blackbird family. Look for The smallest oriole in North America is also the darkest, with a designer color scheme of chestnut and black that is rarely seen in songbirds. It favors open areas with scattered groves of trees, so human activities may have helped it in some areas, opening up the eastern woodlands and planting groves of trees on the prairies. In Massachusetts they are represented by two species—the Baltimore Oriole and the Orchard Oriole. Baltimore oriole. The Orchard Oriole swaps the typical flame-orange of other orioles for a deep, burnished russet. Great-tailed grackle. Other blackbirds, meadowlarks, cowbirds; grackles and new world oriole. Orchard Orioles often gather in flocks during migration. The Orchard Oriole is the smallest North American oriole and might even be mistaken for a warbler at first glance. Fairly common but declining overall, the Orchard Oriole is a rather late spring migrant. Smaller than Baltimore Oriole with smaller, slightly decurved bill. The song is a loud jumble of lively and rich whis- tling, usually with a zheeeer at or near the end. Chromolithograph after an ornithological illustration by John James Audubon from Benjamin Harry Warren’s Report on the Birds of Pennsylvania, E.K. Like the Orchard Oriole, the Baltimore Orioles young have similar coloring to their mother. Orchard Orioles range east of the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean. Female. Immature birds. Their head and back can be anything from brown to a yellowish color. Orchard Oriole, adult male, the first year males are green above and yellower below like female, but with black bibs and lores (as young male Hooded below), but real green and yellow-green overall. The Orchard Oriole swaps the typical flame-orange of other orioles for a deep, burnished russet. Brown-headed cowbird. Bronzed cowbird. Orchard oriole (song) Song. Adult males are rich chestnut brown with black head. Visits feeders with nectar and fruits. Hopping among riverine shrubs or scattered trees, male Orchard Orioles sing a whistled, chattering song to attract yellow-green females. Most common in the Midwest and South is this small oriole. Eastern meadowlark. Hopping among riverine shrubs or scattered trees, male Orchard Orioles sing a whistled, chattering song to attract yellow-green females. The male is a rich chestnut-brown and black, but in poor light can appear almost all black.