Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 9.1 in
23 cm - Wingspan
- 12.6 in
32 cm - Weight
- 1.1–1.4 oz
32–41 g
Other Names
- Oriole jaune-verdâtre (French)
- Bolsero tunero, Bolsero parisino, Calandria tunera (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- The Scott's Oriole is closely associated with yuccas in much of its range. It forages for insects on yucca plants, eats nectar from yucca flowers, weaves its nest from fibers taken from dead yucca leaves, and hangs the nest from live yucca leaves.
- The Scott's Oriole is one of the first birds to start singing each day, starting before sunrise. It is a persistent singer too, and can be heard at all times of the day and throughout most of the summer. It even has been heard singing on its wintering grounds. The female will sing from the nest in response to the male's song.
Habitat
Open Woodland
Desert-facing slopes of mountains and foothills, where yuccas are common.
Food
Insects
Insects, fruit, and nectar.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 1–5 eggs
- Egg Description
- Very pale blue with dark spots and streaks around the larger end.
- Condition at Hatching
- Helpless with tufts of pale gray down.
Nest Description
Nest a slightly hanging basket of woven plant fibers stripped from dead leaves, lined with soft grasses and other plant fibers. Placed in short trees, especially yuccas. Usually hung from leaves at crown of tree.
Nest Placement
Tree
Behavior
Foliage Gleaner
Gleans and probes in trees and flowers for insects and nectar. Visits feeders for sugar water.
Conservation
Least Concern
Populations appear stable or slightly increasing. Data lacking from heart of range in Mexico.
Credits
- Flood, N. J. 2002. Scott's Oriole (Icterus parisorum). In The Birds of North America, No. 608 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.