Spot-breasted Oriole

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

Codes: Common Name: SBOR Scientific Name: ICTPEC ITIS Taxonomic No.: 179068

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Overview

Spot-breasted Oriole: Large oriole, mostly bright orange except for black back, mask, throat, and spots on breast; wings are black with large white patches. Tail is black. Forages in shrubs and trees. Feeds on insects, fruits, berries and nectar. Strong direct and swift flight with rapid wing beats.

Range and Habitat

Spot-breasted Oriole: Native of Mexico; first reported in the Miami area in 1949, where it was probably introduced from escaped captives, and has since been found from Homestead to Fort Lauderdale. Preferred habitats include parks, suburbs, and gardens.

Topo Map: Perching-like Body

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"whee ch-wee'chu-u", "nyeh"

Interesting Facts

The female Spot-breasted Oriole often sings. Her song is usually simpler and has a thinner tone than the male's song.

Unlike most North American orioles where the males are bright and the females are dull, both sexes of the Spot-breasted Oriole are bright and look alike. This is common in tropical orioles.

A group of orioles are collectively known as a "pitch" and a "split" of orioles.

Bird Term Glossary

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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.

Spot-breasted Oriole

● Song: "whee ch-wee'chu-u", "nyeh"

● Foraging & Feeding: Spot-breasted Oriole: Eats fruits, berries, and insects. Forages in shrubs and trees; sometimes pries open rolled leaves.

● Breeding & nesting: Spot-breasted Oriole: Three to five white to pale blue eggs scrawled with black and purple are laid in a cup nest made of grass, stems, and fibers, and lined with finer materials. Nest is hung across a tree branch 20 to 60 feet above the ground. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Spot-breasted Oriole: Other orioles in range lack orange head, black bib, and breast spots. Female Baltimore Oriole resembles juvenile Spot-breasted, but lacks black on breast.

Flight Pattern

Rapidly beating wings., Strong direct flight.

● Range & Habitat: Spot-breasted Oriole: Native of Mexico; first reported in the Miami area in 1949, where it was probably introduced from escaped captives, and has since been found from Homestead to Fort Lauderdale. Preferred habitats include parks, suburbs, and gardens.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^PopulationYes but uncommon

^MigrationNonmigratory

^Weight1.6 Ounces

Perching-like Body

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