Orioles- ORDER: Passeriformes
- FAMILY: Icteridae
Basic Description
The brilliant Altamira Oriole is a tropical species with a tiny portion of its range reaching Texas’s Rio Grande Valley. Adults are flame-orange and black, with white highlights in the wings and a distinctive orange patch at the shoulder. In open woodlands, females find a high branch and then weave a remarkable hanging nest that can be up to 26 inches long. Like other orioles, they sing rich, sweet whistles interspersed with percussive clucks and chatters.
More ID InfoFind This Bird
Altamira Orioles are fairly easy to find even in their tiny U.S. range along the lower Rio Grande. They often come to feeding stations, particularly at parks and national wildlife refuges. Elsewhere, look and listen for this species in taller trees near water. They can be easy to detect in the morning, especially in spring and summer, when males sing the most.
Other Names
- Turpial de Altamira (Spanish)
- Oriole à gros bec (French)
Backyard Tips
Within this species’ range, feeders that offer fresh fruit, hummingbird nectar, or sunflower seeds can attract it. Native plantings that offer fruit or nectar-rich flowers can also bring in Altamira Orioles.