Altamira Oriole

Icterus gularisOrder: PASSERIFORMES Family: Blackbirds and Orioles (Icteridae)

Codes: Common Name: ALOR Scientific Name: ICTGUL ITIS Taxonomic No.: 179076

Breeding Location:

Forest

Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Solitary nester

Breeding Population:

Yes but uncommon

Egg Color:

White heavily marked with brown

Number of Eggs:

3 - 4

Incubation Days:

12 - 14

Egg Incubator:

Female

Nest Material:

Grasses and plant fiber.

Migration:

Nonmigratory

General

Altamira Oriole: Largest North American oriole, with brilliant yellow-orange body and black back, mask, bib, and tail. Wings are black with white bar and feather edges. Female is duller, with dark brown wings and olive-yellow back. Juvenile is duller and appears more yellow, with dark brown wings and olive-yellow back; lacks black mask during first summer.

Range and Habitat

Altamira Oriole: Native of Mexico; has small range in the southern tip of Texas. Preferred habitats include riparian woodlands, open woodlands, arid scrub, and mesquite in the lower Rio Grande Valley of southeastern Texas.

Breeding and Nesting

Altamira Oriole: Three to four white eggs heavily marked with brown are laid in a fibrous nest made of grass and plant materials, and suspended from a tree branch or utility wire. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Altamira Oriole: Feeds on insect, spiders, and fruits such as figs and berries.

Readily Eats

Suet, Jelly, Orange Halves, Raisins

Vocalization

Altamira Oriole: Song is rapid series of 2 to 4 clear, flutelike whistles "chee-choo." Call is a nasal "yehuk."

Similar Species

Altamira Oriole: Hooded Oriole Breeding Adult has a smaller bill and white, not yellow, shoulder patches.

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Altamira Oriole

Altamira Oriole: Largest North American oriole, bright yellow-orange body, black back, mask, bib, and tail. Bill is black. Wings are black with white bar and feather edges. Gray legs and feet. Feeds on caterpillars, insects, fruits, and berries. Swift, strong flight on rapid wing beats.

● Song: "chee-choo", "yehuk"

● Foraging & Feeding: Altamira Oriole: Feeds on insect, spiders, and fruits such as figs and berries.

● Breeding & nesting: Altamira Oriole: Three to four white eggs heavily marked with brown are laid in a fibrous nest made of grass and plant materials, and suspended from a tree branch or utility wire. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Altamira Oriole: Hooded Oriole Breeding Adult has a smaller bill and white, not yellow, shoulder patches.

Flight Pattern

Swift flight with rapid wing beats.

● Range & Habitat: Altamira Oriole: Native of Mexico; has small range in the southern tip of Texas. Preferred habitats include riparian woodlands, open woodlands, arid scrub, and mesquite in the lower Rio Grande Valley of southeastern Texas.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^PopulationYes but uncommon

^MigrationNonmigratory

^Weight2.1 Ounces

Riparian

Relating to or living or located on the bank of a natural watercourse (as a river) or sometimes of a lake or a tidewater.

4 and 6 letter alpha codes

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

Field Guide to Birds of North America

Altamira Oriole

Breeding Location:

Breeding Type:

Breeding Population:

Egg Color:

Number of Eggs:

Incubation Days:

Egg Incubator:

Nest Material:

Migration:

Recommended Products:

General

Range and Habitat

Breeding and Nesting

Foraging and Feeding

Readily Eats

Vocalization

Similar Species

Altamira Oriole

Flight Pattern