Orange Oriole Icterus auratus Scientific name definitions

The Orange Oriole is endemic to the Yucatán Peninsula, which is largely brilliant orange and black in males, whereas females are rather duller over the head and underparts, and have the mantle washed greenish. Males possess an obvious white patch on the shoulder (the ‘epaulets’), and the primaries are also edged whitish. It is generally fairly common, inhabiting open woodland, second growth, and rather arid, open areas, and the species sometimes consorts with other Icterus species. Some authors have suggested that this species might be better named the Yucatan Oriole, given that it is no more ‘orange’ than several other oriole species. It is almost endemic to Mexico, although the species has been also recorded in northern Belize.

19–21 cm; 26·7–36·1 g, one female 27 g. A small, slender oriole. Male has black lores and black median throat stripe extending to upper breast ; rest of head bright orange, body orange-yellow above and below; scapulars black, tipped orange, upperwing black, lesser coverts orange, median coverts white, greater coverts tipped white, secondaries and tertials edged white, primaries edged white at bases (forming small white patch); tail black, indistinct greyish tip; iris dark brown; bill straight, black, basal half of lower mandible bluish-grey; legs bluish-grey. Female is duller than male, orange-yellow with olive wash, and sometimes streaked on back. Immature is like female, but more washed with olive, and with tail olive, not black.

SE Mexico (Yucatán Peninsula S to SC Campeche) and extreme NE Belize; also islands of Mujeres and Cozumel, off NE Quintana Roo.

Not much information. Diet presumably insects and other arthropods, fruits and nectar. Commonly feeds on fruits of native tree Talisia olivaeformis (Sapindaceae), less frequently on fruits of medicinal tree Metopium brownie (Anacardiaceae). Task of obtaining Talisia fruit requires use of bill and legs to extract inner pulp from harder shell. Forages singly and in pairs; often with other orioles.

Song  a slow series of alternating ascending and descending whistles; also a fast “chuchuchuchu”. Common call a nasal “nyeek”.