Bullock's oriole

Icterus bullockii

Photo by Kevin Cole (Encyclopedia of Life)

Common name:

Bullock's oriole (en); corrupião-de-Bullock (pt); oriole de Bullock (fr); bolsero calandria (es); Bullock trupial (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Icteridae

Range:

This American species breeds in western North America, from British Columbia, in Canada, down to northern Mexico. They migrate south to winter from central Mexico sown to Guatemala.

Size:

These birds are 17-19 cm long and have a wingspan of 31 cm. They weigh 29-43 g.

Habitat:

They mostly breed in riparian corridors, open woodland, and scrub forest. In winter they are found in riparian woodlands and woodland edge, typically in pine, pine-oak, or fir forests.

Diet:

The Bullock's oriole feeds primarily on insects, namely butterflies and their larvae, beetles, weevils and scale insects. They also eat fruits, berries, seeds and nectar. Ocasionally, they may also eat molluscs, small lizards and even hummingbirds.

Breeding:

These birds breed in May-July. They are monogamous and both sexes build the nest, a deep, pensile structure, made of of plant fibre, especially flax fibre, oat stalks, and the interior bark of willow and juniper trees. The nest is usually placed on the outer branches of a tree. The female lays 3-6 pale bluish or grey eggs, which she incubates alone for about 11 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 14 days after hatching. The family groups typically stay together after the young fledge, and may join with other families in post-breeding flocks.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and a global population estimated at 3,8 million individuals. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.