Icterus graduacauda
Audubon's Oriole (Icterus graduacauda) is a striking medium-sized passerine, measuring 20-24 cm (8-9.5 inches) in length and weighing between 34-58 grams. Its defining feature is its predominantly black plumage contrasted with vibrant yellow underparts. Key field marks include a completely black head, throat, back, wings, and tail, set against a bright yellow belly and undertail coverts, often with a subtle yellow shoulder patch that is less pronounced than in many other oriole species. This ...
Found primarily in moist evergreen and pine-oak woodlands, dense riparian zones, and shrubby thickets, typically at intermediate to higher elevations ranging from 600-2500 meters (2,000-8,200 feet).
Mainly insectivorous, consuming caterpillars, beetles, and other arthropods, supplemented significantly by nectar from flowering plants and a variety of berries and small fruits.
Audubon's Oriole is a diurnal species, often observed singly or in pairs, typically skulking quietly within the dense canopy, making it more often heard than seen. Foraging involves gleaning insects from foliage and bark, probing flowers for nectar, and consuming various fruits. Males are territo...
Audubon's Oriole is primarily a resident species found throughout much of Mexico, with a very restricted northern breeding and year-round range extending into the United States. In the US, it is found in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas and extends westward into the Big Bend region. ...
Least Concern
- Audubon's Oriole was named after John James Audubon by French naturalist René Lesson, despite Audubon himself never having personally encountered or described the species. - Its song is renowned among birders for its beautiful, clear, and flute-like quality, often described as a series of melan...