These great shots of an oriole were taken in Central Park, New York by David Speiser last week. The bird’s identity had been discussed as to whether it was a Bullock’s or Baltimore.
Birds that look like this, in early winter, often throw up that same question. Bullock’s Oriole is a likely vagrant to New England. So if you were faced with this bird in the field, what features would you look for on a putative Bullock’s Oriole that would help eliminate a late Baltimore?
What do you think? Is it all just a load of Bullock’s?
A solution to follow, but in the meantime, have a go and send in comments!
Oriole, Central Park, NY, December 2011 (David Speiser)
Oriole, Central Park, NY, December 2011 (David Speiser)
Tags: Baltimore Oriole, Bullock's Oriole, Central PArk, NY
December 16, 2011 at 4:05 am |
The bird is a Baltimore Oriole reason being the rump is a yellowish orange if it were a Bullock’s Oriole the rump would be gray. Also female and immature Bullock’s would have a washed out version of the male’s black eye stripe and the upper eye stripe which would be a pale orange or yellow color.
December 16, 2011 at 1:53 pm |
i believe this bird may be a hybrid based on the median coverts coloration of the head and neck. The tail feathers look beat up and I think Baltimore molts in summer, leaving me to believe that it is a baltimore but alot about the appearance points me to bullocks.
December 16, 2011 at 2:19 pm |
My vote is for Baltimore. Orange-colored rump, a rather brownish mantle, complete lack of any sort of eye line. It would be a little easier with a profile shot of the wing, but it looks like the white edging on the greater coverts is less extensive than it should be for a Bullock’s.
Sibley and Nat Geo conflict over head color. This one has a pretty orange head, which according to Sibley would make it a Bullock’s. But Nat Geo doesn’t really make that distinction.