Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 8.3–9.8 in
21–25 cm - Wingspan
- 14.2 in
36 cm - Weight
- 1.7–2.3 oz
47–64 g
Other Names
- Lichtenstein's Oriole, Black-throated Oriole
- Oriole a gros bec (French)
- Bolsero campero, Chiltote de gargantinegra (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- The Altamira Oriole has been observed foraging for dead grasshoppers on the fronts of cars.
- The Altamira Oriole is a solitary nester, with an average of a quarter kilometer (800 ft) between nests. Despite this wide spacing, it is not known to be territorial, and almost no aggression has been observed during the breeding season.
Habitat
Open Woodland
Semi-arid areas with scattered trees, open riparian woodland, open areas within more humid environments.
Food
Insects
Insects, fruit.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 2–6 eggs
- Egg Description
- Pale bluish white with irregular black and purple spots and splotches.
- Condition at Hatching
- Helpless.
Nest Description
A long (30-65 cm; 12-25.5 in), hanging pouch woven of fibers and thin roots of epiphytes, suspended in the fork of a branch in a tall tree or hung from telephone wires.
Nest Placement
Tree
Behavior
Foliage Gleaner
Forages through foliage from top of tree to near ground.
Conservation
Least Concern
Listed as threatened by the Texas Organization for Endangered Species. Common in the southern part of its range.
Credits
- Pleasants, B. Y. 1993. Altamira Oriole (Icterus gularis). In The Birds of North America, No. 56 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists' Union.