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Spot-breasted Oriole

Icterus pectoralisOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Blackbirds and Orioles (Icteridae)

Spot-breasted Oriole Portrait
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General

Spot-breasted Oriole: Large oriole, mostly bright orange except for black back, mask, throat, and spots on breast; wings are black with large white patches. Tail is black. Female is duller. Juvenile is yellow-orange overall with olive-gray back and often lacks breast spots.

Range and Habitat

Spot-breasted Oriole: Native of Mexico; first reported in the Miami area in 1949, where it was probably introduced from escaped captives, and has since been found from Homestead to Fort Lauderdale. Preferred habitats include parks, suburbs, and gardens.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"whee ch-wee'chu-u", "nyeh"

Interesting Facts

 The female Spot-breasted Oriole often sings. Her song is usually simpler and has a thinner tone than the male's song.

 Unlike most North American orioles where the males are bright and the females are dull, both sexes of the Spot-breasted Oriole are bright and look alike. This is common in tropical orioles.

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



Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Range Map for Spot-breasted Oriole
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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.
Family Orioles and Blackbirds (Icteridae)_blue
Species Icterus pectoralis
Length8.25 - 9.5 Inches
Wingspan13.5 Inches

Spot-breasted Oriole

Spot-breasted Oriole: Large oriole, mostly bright orange except for black back, mask, throat, and spots on breast; wings are black with large white patches. Tail is black. Forages in shrubs and trees. Feeds on insects, fruits, berries and nectar. Strong direct and swift flight with rapid wing beats.

● Song: "whee ch-wee'chu-u", "nyeh"

● Foraging & Feeding: Spot-breasted Oriole: Eats fruits, berries, and insects. Forages in shrubs and trees; sometimes pries open rolled leaves.

● Breeding & nesting: Spot-breasted Oriole: Three to five white to pale blue eggs scrawled with black and purple are laid in a cup nest made of grass, stems, and fibers, and lined with finer materials. Nest is hung across a tree branch 20 to 60 feet above the ground. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Spot-breasted Oriole: Other orioles in range lack orange head, black bib, and breast spots. Female Baltimore Oriole resembles juvenile Spot-breasted, but lacks black on breast.

Flight Pattern

Rapidly beating wings., Strong direct flight.
Spot-breasted Oriole Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Spot-breasted Oriole: Native of Mexico; first reported in the Miami area in 1949, where it was probably introduced from escaped captives, and has since been found from Homestead to Fort Lauderdale. Preferred habitats include parks, suburbs, and gardens.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationYes but uncommon
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight1.6 Ounces