The Northern Oriole is a beautiful bird that has delighted bird watchers in North and South America for years. The Northern Oriole, also known as the "Baltimore Oriole" or "Bullocks Oriole", is a common sign of spring and summer in many parts of the United States and Canada. They have a varied diet, feeding on blossoms and small berries in the springtime, and in the summertime and in the rest of the year commonly feasting on snails, spiders and insects. They are also known to eat many different foods from feeders including nectar, fruits and jellies. They prefer building nests during these summer months in residential areas, preferably a place with a lot of trees in it, and the occasional orchard. The Oriole has a knack for nest building. They can build their nests nearly anywhere they choose, although they usually put them in between two sturdy twigs at the end of a branch. They will build their nests out of hair, string, yarn, small bits of plant and twigs and weave them into a sturdy bowl to keep their young safe and sound. The Oriole also loves water - if you put a few misters out or spray down the tree it lives in, it will enjoy the cool water. Male and female Northern Orioles look quite different from each other. The female is a yellowish-green, with her belly and lower wings being yellowish-orange. The male has a black tail, wings, head and back, and with an orange rump, shoulder and breast. Mature individuals usually measure between18 and 20 centimeters in length and have a wingspan between 29 and 31 centimeters. The Northern Oriole spends its spring and summers in many parts of the United States and Canada, while it winters in Mexico and South America. |