Overview

Streak-backed Oriole: Large oriole with mostly bright orange body except for black streaks on back. Deep orange-red head and breast contrast with black face, chin. Black wings with two bold white bars. Black tail with white corners. Eats mostly insects. Strong direct flight with rapid wing beats.

Range and Habitat

Streak-backed Oriole: Casual in southern California and southern Arizona. Prefers arid and semi-arid scrub and brushy woodlands; also inhabits plantations.

Breeding and Nesting

Streak-backed Oriole: Two to six white to pale blue eggs heavily marked with black and brown are laid in a basket nest made of plant fibers, grass, and vines, lined with finer materials, and hung 10 to 50 feet above the ground. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Streak-backed Oriole: Eats large insects, grubs, seeds, flowers, and nectar; forages in high to middle levels in deciduous trees.

Readily Eats

Suet, Jelly, Orange Halves, Raisins

Vocalization

Streak-backed Oriole: Song is a full, rich warble "roo-chee-roo-roo-chee-roo." Makes a variety of chatters and call notes, including "weet,weet,weet,weet,weet."

Similar Species

Streak-backed Oriole: Female and juvenile male Bullock's Orioles have faintly streaked gray-brown backs, entirely blue-gray lower mandibles, pale gray bellies, sides, and flanks, and thinner white edges on flight feathers and wing coverts.