BALTIMORE ORIOLE

Icterus galbula

Status: Common regular spring migrant east and central, uncommon west. Common regular breeder east and central, rare west. Common regular fall migrant east and central, rare west.

Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM7017, 30 Nov 1900 Lancaster Co.

Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022).

Hybridization occurs between this species and Bullock’s Oriole; see https://birds.outdoornebraska.gov/bullocks-x-baltimore-oriole-hybrid/.

Following the report of a Scott’s Oriole in 2006 (see that species), several observers noted sightings of yellow Baltimore Orioles, including photos. It appears that orange pigments are diet-derived (Thomas et al 2014), and some orioles reaching our area may have experienced a deficiency of food items that produce orange coloration.

Spring: Apr 21, 22, 22 <<<>>> summer, (except west) May 7, 8, 8 <<<>>> summer (west)

Earlier dates are 16 Apr 2019 Douglas Co, 16 Apr 2022 Lancaster Co, and 16 Apr 2024 Douglas Co.

This species arrives in late Apr, and about three weeks later in the west.

A banding station in Elkhorn, Douglas Co reported large numbers of Baltimore Orioles passing through in the years 2002-2015; yearly totals ranged from 49 to 526 (David Stage, personal communication). During the peak year, 2014, of 526 birds banded, 113 were recaptures from previous years, and 413 were new captures (Dave Stage, personal communication). A banding/recapture study in a Hall Co yard in 2014 and 2015 included an estimated 143 birds present 2 Jun 2014, and 164 during 14 May-15 Jun 2015 (Lingle 2015). The observer noted a maximum count at any one time of only seven (Lingle 2015). These studies show that counts of observed number of birds may greatly under-estimate the actual number of individuals present in an area unless an advanced methodology (e.g. mark/recapture protocol) is used. Of the Baltimore Orioles banded in a Gibbon, Buffalo Co yard in spring 2023, 52% had been banded there previously as far back as 2016 (Gary Lingle, personal communication).

• High counts: 154 in Hall Co 11 May 2002, 148 there 13 May 2006, 124 in Sarpy Co 13 May 1995, and 70 at a feeding station in Hall Co 29 May 2016.

Summer: This species breeds commonly throughout Nebraska, except for the Panhandle, where it is rare. Mollhoff (2016) showed few confirmed reports of nesting in each atlas period (1984-1989 and 2006-2011) in the Panhandle; the five reports were in Sheridan, Scotts Bluff, Morrill, Garden, and Deuel Cos. There was little change in distribution between the two breeding bird atlas periods (Mollhoff 2016). There were three reports in 2018 from the Pine Ridge in Sioux and Dawes Cos; singles at Fort Robinson, Dawes Co 2 Jun and 9 Jul, and at Sowbelly Canyon, Sioux Co 2 Jun. In 2021 and through 2024 there have been 5-10 Panhandle reports each year scattered among riparian sites. Bridgeport SRA, Morrill Co appears to be the western limit in the North Platte River Valley, with regular occurrence west to Lewellen, southeastern Garden Co.

It is apparent that this species has spread westward since 1900, possibly at the expense of Bullock’s Oriole. According to Bates (1900), Bullock’s Oriole was “very common at Long Pine” in Brown Co. Bruner et al (1904) stated that at the end of the 19th century Baltimore Oriole occurred west only to central Nebraska. BBS trend analysis (Sauer et al 2020) shows that this oriole has increased annually 0.43% (95% C.I.; -0.18, 1.05) 1966-2019. Near Crook, Colorado, between the 1950s and 1970s, the percentage of Baltimore Orioles increased while the percentage of intergrades and Bullock’s Orioles decreased (Corbin et al 1979).

There is a specimen, UNSM ZM7012, taken at Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff Co as far back as 28 Jun 1916.

• Breeding phenology:
  Nest building: 5 May-22 Jun
• Eggs: 21 May- 15 Jul (Mollhoff 2022)
  Nestlings: 3 Jun- 23 Jul
  Fledglings: 1 Jun-28 Jul

Fall: summer <<<>>> Oct 4, 5, 6 (except west); summer <<<>>> Sep 4, 5, 6 (west)

For later dates away from the west see below.

Later dates for the west are 18 Sep 2010 Scotts Bluff Co, and a male at a Scottsbluff feeder “through Christmas” (Cortelyou 1972).

Movement out of the north and west begins in Aug, and departure from the state is essentially completed by late Sep.

This species has a propensity to linger late in fall and into early winter in the east; latest date is 14 Jan, but overwintering has not been documented. There are these reports: 10 Oct 2020 Lancaster Co, 12 Oct 2018 Lancaster Co, 16 Oct 2020 Lancaster Co, 7 Nov 2020 Sarpy Co, 22 Nov 2010 Dodge Co, 30 Nov through December 1979 Sarpy Co feeder (Williams 1980a, 1980b), 1 Dec 1974 Bellevue, Sarpy Co (Williams 1975), until 11 Dec 2001 surviving on peanuts at an Omaha, Douglas Co feeder, 8 Nov-12 Dec 1981 feeding on fallen apples Bellevue, Sarpy Co (Cortelyou 1982), 22 Dec 2012 Douglas Co, 14-16 Dec 2014 and likely same first fall individual at same feeder 10 Jan 2015 Seward, Seward Co, 1 Dec 1986 through 14 Jan 1987 when caught by a cat Cass Co (Williams 1987).

• High counts: 51 at one location in Lancaster Co 17 Aug 2009, 20 near Gibbon, Buffalo Co 30 Aug 2003, and 19 at Lange WPA, Clay Co 20 Aug 2000.

Abbreviations

BBS: Breeding Bird Survey
SRA: State Recreation Area
UNSM: University of Nebraska State Museum
WPA: Waterfowl Production Area (Federal)

Acknowledgement

Photograph (top) of a Baltimore Oriole in Papillion, Sarpy Co 4 May 2008 by Phil Swanson.

Literature Cited

Bates, J.M. 1900. Additional notes and observations on the birds of northern Nebraska. Proceedings of Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union 1: 15-18.

Bruner, L., R.H. Wolcott, and M.H. Swenk. 1904. A preliminary review of the birds of Nebraska, with synopses. Klopp and Bartlett, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.

Corbin, K.W., C.G. Sibley, and A. Ferguson. 1979. Genetic changes associated with the establishment of sympatry in orioles of the genus Icterus. Evolution 33: 624-633.

Cortelyou, R.G. 1972. 1971 Christmas Count. NBR 40: 15-21.

Cortelyou, R.G. 1982. 1981 (Twenty-fourth) Fall Occurrence Report. NBR 50: 3-20.

Gill, F., D. Donsker, and P. Rasmussen (Eds). 2022. IOC World Bird List (v 12.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.12.2.  http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.

Lingle, G.R. 2015. Oriole Consumption of grape jelly. NBR 83: 93-97.

Mollhoff, W.J. 2016. The Second Nebraska Breeding Bird Atlas. Bull. Univ. Nebraska State Museum Vol 29. University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.

Mollhoff, W.J. 2022. Nest records of Nebraska birds. Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Occasional Paper Number 9.

Sauer, J.R., W.A. Link and J.E. Hines. 2020. The North American Breeding Bird Survey – Analysis Results 1966-2019. U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P96A7675, accessed 27 Jul 2023.

Thomas, D.B., K.J. McGraw, H.F. James, and O. Madden. 2014. Non-destructive descriptions of carotenoids in feathers using Raman spectroscopy. Analytical Methods 6: 1301-1308.

Williams, F. 1975. Southern Great Plains Region. American Birds 29: 707-711.

Williams, F. 1980a. Southern Great Plains Region. American Birds 34: 176-179.

Williams, F. 1980b. Southern Great Plains Region. American Birds 34: 286-288.

Williams, F. 1987. Southern Great Plains Region. American Birds 41: 297-300.

Recommended Citation

Silcock, W.R., and J.G. Jorgensen. 2024. Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula). In Birds of Nebraska — Online. www.BirdsofNebraska.org

Birds of Nebraska – Online

Updated 23 Aug 2024