General

Scott's Oriole: Medium-sized oriole with black hood extending onto breast and back. Belly and rump are bright yellow. Wings are black with yellow shoulder patches and two white bars. Tail is yellow with thick black tip and central line. Female is duller with gray hood, black breast patch, and mottled black back. Juvenile resembles female but is grayer, lacks breast patch, and has streaked back.

Range and Habitat

Scott's Oriole: Breeds in southern California, southern Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas. Spends winters mainly south of the U.S.-Mexico border. Found in desert grassland prairies and mountain canyons, particularly if yucca or palms are present; nests in pinyon-juniper woodlands, sycamores, and cottonwoods.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"cherk", "jug", "shack", "zhet"

Interesting Facts

 The Scott's Oriole is closely associated with yuccas in much of its range. It forages for insects on the plant, eats nectar from the flowers, weaves its nest from fibers taken from dead leaves, and hangs the nest from live leaves.

 It is one of the first birds to start singing each day, starting before sunrise. It can be heard at all times of the day and throughout most of the summer.

 This bird was named by Darius N. Couch in honour of General Winfield Scott. Although it was later discovered that it had previously been described by Bonaparte, the common name was retained.

 A group of orioles are collectively known as a "pitch" and a "split" of orioles.

Author

Gary Owen Dick